Response

Shannon said...

Also, I would like to say that often when given a chance the "remedial" students will catch up with the "gifted" students. Very few students have learning disabilities that cannot be overcome IF the child is told they can overcome them and given the resources to do so.

If we want to have "No Child Left Behind" the we should be treating all children as if they have greater than average potential not less than average potential.

This will do 2 things: 1) it will challenge the kids to catch up or at least be better than they are now and 2) it will give them more self esteem because they will say "I am just as good as the gifted kids". The hope is that eventually with individual support from peers, teachers and outside resources that the remedial kids will no longer be behind and they will have been brought forward instead of everyone else being held back because the government says they cant do the same work as "gifted" or "average" kids.

The tricky part, in my humble opinion, is getting the support that these students need to excel. But aren't we already using a lot of resources on their "remedial" materials and teaching? Why not just shift gears just a little to receive the huge benefit of helping to create a happier, better academically, socially, and personally adjusted student?

The "remedial" student who learns they are not worth less than an "average" or even a "gifted" student may surprise the government and the administration by becoming the model for other students who are struggling to be where the government tells them they should be. Wouldn't this achieve the "No Child Left Behind" with similar resources and a much happier child and much prouder teacher as a result?

And of course the whole community would benefit from a network of such children and their in-school and out-of-school resources. It would be like the "Boys and Girls Club" after school program but supported directly by government-sponsored schools and their resources.