You've Got to be Kidding

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

I took it as the child was in a gifted/talented class, which in some elemntary schools puts the children in thier own class for certain classes (english, reading, social studies). It isnt necessarily about making a division.

That's still a division based on outcome and sometimes intent.

Saying "you all are the gifted/talented" goes with saying "you all aren't the gifted/talented" and the subsequent "you all are a step below the "normal" kids who we just told aren't the gifted/talented."

[epchick]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

That's still a division based on outcome and sometimes intent.

Saying "you all are the gifted/talented" goes with saying "you all aren't the gifted/talented" and the subsequent "you all are a step below the "normal" kids who we just told aren't the gifted/talented."

Its the same way in HS with the AP classes. There will always be the GT classes and the non-gt...i don't see the problem wi th dividing them into diff classes. Its not about being a "step below."

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by epchick

Its the same way in HS with the AP classes. There will always be the GT classes and the non-gt...i don't see the problem wi th dividing them into diff classes. Its not about being a "step below."

I agree that it is the same as AP. Those of us who were in AP classes were "tracked" into those classes early on. We didn't just end up in those classes overnight but instead were in gifted and talented courses/programs for years. Schools that don't have a formal program called "tracking" still use a track system if they have classes divided by something other than age and grade level.

It's not about being a "step below" to us but the problem with tracking isn't about our personal opinions.