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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Fairfax seems unusual in its labelling and separation (even to the point of sending kids to alternate schools) of gifted kids.  Arlington and Falls Church City integrate them into the classrooms and enable differentiation on a subject by subject basis, as well as based on whether a kid wants to choose to push themselves, with the teacher's permission (even if they didn't test well).  Similarly, they integrate special needs children.  In Falls Church City, my son has children with down syndrome, cerebralpalsy, and brilliant (off the charts) smart kids all together.  There is very low teacher/student ratio (the special needs kids have one-on-one attendants) so that everyone's needs are met but children are not labelled and separated.  I much prefer the integration.

An earlier poster said that parents play a role and that is true to a point.  Kids see the obvious.  If a kid is tested and then separated from their peers because they did well, there is an inevitable superiority they will have that no amount of parental discussion will change.  It will become clear to them that smart kids benefit and are separated, and that they are not one of the smart kids.  That will, in turn, affect their worldview of themselves and what they believe they can achieve.  The sad thing is that many studies show that brilliance doesn't lead to success - effort matters more.  The Fairfax system of (based solely on tests) labelling and separating kids will harm them in the long run.[/quote]

The way Fairfax implements their GT program is unusual, but so is Arlington's. I think the program in Loudoun is more common, but it also separates students.

Inclusion is the modern education philosophy and old-fashioned GT programs like Fairfax and Loudoun are in conflict with that.  I'm not sure they'll be able to survive all that much longer. [/quote]

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