by Nicholas Zill
Mothers and fathers whose children show early or unusual ability in subjects like reading, math, science, art, music, drama, or dance look to schools to provide gifted education programs that encourage and nurture those interests and talents. They do not want their daughters and sons to be bored and restless in class because they have already mastered the knowledge and skills their teachers are teaching. They seek a type and level of instruction that will engage and challenge their children. However, parents looking for such tutelage in today’s public schools may well become frustrated.
Public School Policies Toward Gifted Students
Policiesandpracticesofpublicschoolsystemstowardgiftedstudents—those whoarewellaheadoftheiragepeersinknowledgeorskill—varywidelyacrossstatesandhavechangedovertime.Attitudesinmanyschooldistrictsrangefrommildlyencouragingtoindifferentorevenfaintlyhostile.Schoolstendtobemoreconcernedaboutandsupportiveofstudentswhoaresubstantiallybehindtheiragepeers,especiallyifthosepupilscomefromlow-incomefamilies,minorityethnicgroups,orhaveadiagnoseddis
