anyone hear-- there's a GT forum for MoCo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Don't get drawn into the nonsense by the GTA. They have been running around in circles on this forum and doing their usual sniping. Just ignore them.

Just make sure you advocate for your child.

You seem to believe GTA is nonsense. Can you suggest an alternative organization who is fighting for our kids who are highly able, left in local schools?

When is the last time anyone achieved an advocacy alone?

A GTA officer posted on a homeschooling list. She said she created the form for the GTA. Why is the GTA doing that? You guys seem to be trying to get a crowd to show YOUR power. How many paying members do you have? What happened to the stuff you promised to post?


Parents are better off advocating on their own rather than joining a secretive organization that always seems to be attacking teachers and even our Super.

[Anonymous]

There are many people who homeschool because they believe MCPS doesn't provide enough challenge and acceleration for their children. Why would it be odd for someone associated with GTA to homeschool? Makes perfect sense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A GTA officer posted on a homeschooling list. She said she created the form for the GTA. Why is the GTA doing that? You guys seem to be trying to get a crowd to show YOUR power. How many paying members do you have? What happened to the stuff you promised to post?
Parents are better off advocating on their own rather than joining a secretive organization that always seems to be attacking teachers and even our Super.

I am not GTA, so do not know which form and what homeschooling list you are talking about.

I think GTA is trying to provide a platform for all parents concerned about accelerated and advanced education in MCPS to provide written comments and questions. I do not see anything wrong with it. Yes, there is power in unity. I am not a GTA member, but I would be happy to stand next to one, if we find a common issue to advocate. In the issue of “Challenging Every Child” I see more similarities with my thought process than differences.

Please provide example where GTA “attacked” teachers and Super. Is it one person in GTA or everyone in the office? Is it GTA’s official position to attack teachers and Super? Was it over some valid issue or they just attacked?

[Anonymous]

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

Seriously, just look at the "I am not with the GTA" folks posting in defense of the GTA and then vanishing when you ask a substantive question. And, really, how can they be a worthwhile organization for GT when GT went to hell on their watch.

Their president chased his tail claiming Labelgate when MCPS wanted to get rid of the label. Now he is trying to pretend that it aint the label that matters. Here is what the Post reported ""What matters is what the kids are going to get, not what they're labeled," said Louise Epstein, a Fairfax parent. " (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503114.html)

The GTA is a bunch of eastern MoCo parents trying to get their kids a label so that they feel good. Nothing more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

Seriously, just look at the "I am not with the GTA" folks posting in defense of the GTA and then vanishing when you ask a substantive question. And, really, how can they be a worthwhile organization for GT when GT went to hell on their watch.

Their president chased his tail claiming Labelgate when MCPS wanted to get rid of the label. Now he is trying to pretend that it aint the label that matters. Here is what the Post reported ""What matters is what the kids are going to get, not what they're labeled," said Louise Epstein, a Fairfax parent. " (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503114.html)

The GTA is a bunch of eastern MoCo parents trying to get their kids a label so that they feel good. Nothing more.

It is evident that you do not live in eastern MoCo. Come on over here with your family, send your kids to a local ES for a few years, and then ... we'll talk again.

[Anonymous]

Ugh! 16;25 - I'm starting to think that all the anti-GTA posters on this thread are actually fronts for the opposite group (which wanted to elminate GT entirely and lump all kids together in the exact same classes). I have not seen a single GTA person post in all 8 pgs of this - what I have seen is many parents like myself who had not heard of GTA a couple weeks ago until the group was mentioned on a similar thread complaining about educational opportunities for higher end learners. After that I looked at their website (as it sounds like many others did too) and 100% agree with their Challenge Every Child proposal. I also looked at the opposite group's website - the No Labels, No Limits group - and totally disagree with them.

Pretty much every one us us that seems to be posting in favor of using the strength of numbers or is interested in the ideas of GTA even if we are not sure yet if we want to join, has said the same thing - the labeling of the kids is just a useful tool to try to help provide leverage to giving them the services they need. I think most of us care not one wit whether our kid is truly gifted in the traditional sense of the word. (DD is 4 and I am fairly confident she's not gifted but also expect she is likely to be among the more advanced learners in our very high poverty school.) If your kid is truly gifted, good for you! Why do we have to fight about it? How are the efforts of some parents to advocate for differentiated instructuion targeting each kid where they are at (Including truly gifted kids) in any way competing with your goal of getting the best education possible for your gifted child?

[Anonymous]

17:45 again - and yes, I'm an eastern parent. As i think many posting here w/ similar view are - and many in the GTA. While lack of ability grouping might be a concern on the west side for some too the problem is absolutely huge on the east side when your child is likely to be in the small minority of kids in the class who start school both knowing English fluently and having learned most school-readiness concepts already at a decent preschool or at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

Seriously, just look at the "I am not with the GTA" folks posting in defense of the GTA and then vanishing when you ask a substantive question. And, really, how can they be a worthwhile organization for GT when GT went to hell on their watch.

Their president chased his tail claiming Labelgate when MCPS wanted to get rid of the label. Now he is trying to pretend that it aint the label that matters. Here is what the Post reported ""What matters is what the kids are going to get, not what they're labeled," said Louise Epstein, a Fairfax parent. " (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503114.html)

The GTA is a bunch of eastern MoCo parents trying to get their kids a label so that they feel good. Nothing more.

It is evident that you do not live in eastern MoCo. Come on over here with your family, send your kids to a local ES for a few years, and then ... we'll talk again.

Hon, I live in Takoma Park!!! And yes, my kids went to school here. Ability grouping is fine--just don't mess with gifted education to push that agenda. Your wanting the label for your kids is fine just don't mess with GT to get it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh! 16;25 - I'm starting to think that all the anti-GTA posters on this thread are actually fronts for the opposite group (which wanted to elminate GT entirely and lump all kids together in the exact same classes). I have not seen a single GTA person post in all 8 pgs of this - what I have seen is many parents like myself who had not heard of GTA a couple weeks ago until the group was mentioned on a similar thread complaining about educational opportunities for higher end learners. After that I looked at their website (as it sounds like many others did too) and 100% agree with their Challenge Every Child proposal. I also looked at the opposite group's website - the No Labels, No Limits group - and totally disagree with them.

Pretty much every one us us that seems to be posting in favor of using the strength of numbers or is interested in the ideas of GTA even if we are not sure yet if we want to join, has said the same thing - the labeling of the kids is just a useful tool to try to help provide leverage to giving them the services they need. I think most of us care not one wit whether our kid is truly gifted in the traditional sense of the word. (DD is 4 and I am fairly confident she's not gifted but also expect she is likely to be among the more advanced learners in our very high poverty school.) If your kid is truly gifted, good for you! Why do we have to fight about it? How are the efforts of some parents to advocate for differentiated instructuion targeting each kid where they are at (Including truly gifted kids) in any way competing with your goal of getting the best education possible for your gifted child?

The GTA wants to keep labeling their kids. If its about getting ability grouping why would you need a label. Just be honest and admit that the GTA wants a label for their kids and is bringing down GT with it. Many of us here in the eastern part of MoCo are happy with our centers and magnets. No, we don't support the GTA because you guys use anonymous postings, misleading statements (the thing you said about tomorrows meeting not being about HGCs), and cannot be pinned down on anything. There is strength in numbers only if we represent the same thing. GTA and many of us in Takoma Park don't agree on pretty much anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

Seriously, just look at the "I am not with the GTA" folks posting in defense of the GTA and then vanishing when you ask a substantive question. And, really, how can they be a worthwhile organization for GT when GT went to hell on their watch.

Their president chased his tail claiming Labelgate when MCPS wanted to get rid of the label. Now he is trying to pretend that it aint the label that matters. Here is what the Post reported ""What matters is what the kids are going to get, not what they're labeled," said Louise Epstein, a Fairfax parent. " (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503114.html)

The GTA is a bunch of eastern MoCo parents trying to get their kids a label so that they feel good. Nothing more.

It is evident that you do not live in eastern MoCo. Come on over here with your family, send your kids to a local ES for a few years, and then ... we'll talk again.

Hon, I live in Takoma Park!!! And yes, my kids went to school here. Ability grouping is fine--just don't mess with gifted education to push that agenda. Your wanting the label for your kids is fine just don't mess with GT to get it.

Look at the condescending tone you are using and then you claim GTA people attack others? Is GT patented by you that no one else can use? You can have your definition in your home. Rest of the MCPS will use the definition MCPS has come up with until it is changed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's funny that a thread I started mostly to complain about posters cluttering other threads with GTA advertising is now 7 pages of reasonably substantive discussion

It's not funny. Conclusion... your silly complaints fell on deaf ears.

Seriously, just look at the "I am not with the GTA" folks posting in defense of the GTA and then vanishing when you ask a substantive question. And, really, how can they be a worthwhile organization for GT when GT went to hell on their watch.

Their president chased his tail claiming Labelgate when MCPS wanted to get rid of the label. Now he is trying to pretend that it aint the label that matters. Here is what the Post reported ""What matters is what the kids are going to get, not what they're labeled," said Louise Epstein, a Fairfax parent. " (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121503114.html)

The GTA is a bunch of eastern MoCo parents trying to get their kids a label so that they feel good. Nothing more.

It is evident that you do not live in eastern MoCo. Come on over here with your family, send your kids to a local ES for a few years, and then ... we'll talk again.

Hon, I live in Takoma Park!!! And yes, my kids went to school here. Ability grouping is fine--just don't mess with gifted education to push that agenda. Your wanting the label for your kids is fine just don't mess with GT to get it.

Look at the condescending tone you are using and then you claim GTA people attack others? Is GT patented by you that no one else can use? You can have your definition in your home. Rest of the MCPS will use the definition MCPS has come up with until it is changed.

MCPS has made it very clear what the label means. I am using the same tone the GTA uses to preach to us. So far the GTA has been anonymously posting ... refusing to give answers ... and misleading us that the meeting wont be about HGC. I am disgusted.

[Anonymous]

I read the GTA listserv and I can say with some confidence that the posts here that people thing come from GTA do not.

Please note that the GTA listserv is open and people post there without being members of the organization. I'm pretty sure that's happening here too.

It's a shame because the people who run GTA have good intentions and a reasonable approach. If you are curious, please visit their website and ignore these posts.

[Anonymous]

^^ Sorry, meant to say "the posts here that people THINK come from GTA do not."

[Anonymous]

Most of the posters on here concerned about ability grouping have stated they do not belong to GTA at this point. Not sure why a PP keeps insisting many of us are lieing about this.

I think the very small % of parents happy w/ the centers/HGC since their kids are among the few who got into those programs are being quite narrow minded in insisting that only their views count and that, despite MCPS clearly including many above grade level kids in its GT designation (and not only the truly highest level gifted kids), it's inappropriate for parents to use the MCPS definition of GT to advocate for much needed ability grouping. Ability grouping, by the way, should of COURSE include not only in-school grouping but also the centers/HGCs for those highly exceptional kids who don't fit in a normal school at all. No one advocating ability grouping seems to be anti centers/HGC....not sure why some of those parents seem to be anti-ability grouping for the rest of the much larger group of parents struggling to get appropriate instruction for their own kids in their local schools. If anything, appropriate home school instruction would lessen competition for the HGC/centers since it would not be such a high stakes game for those left to stay in the home school.