Reply to Achievement gaps and gifted & talented or test-in programs

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Of course genetics matter but kids cannot fully access their full potential without a stable beginning. The point is to not write off poor kids with the "not everyone can be Einstein" before seeing what they are fully capable of. Why can't we get everyone to a point where they can feel stable and cared for so that they can concentrate on school?

Right, not everyone is genius material-we come in all varieties. My own kids are all generally bright but one is a go-getter, one is lazy and the other just has things fall into her lap-same genetics, same environment-different levels of achievement. But because they are well nourished, well rested, are allowed to follow their interests and have their  individual difficulties pointed out and worked on, we get to see what their potential really is.

I have worked in schools for years, special ed/regualr ed/privileged/diverse etc. What we see often are kids who come to school from a chaotic background. They come to school and experience some stability/routine, get food, have adults talk to them, care for them, help them, but they are not really ready to fully access all the academics yet, they are just working off the chaos. Just my opinion, but I have seen it, worked with it, been frustrated by it for years. [/quote]

I agree with you, PP.  I am compassionate and believe in social justice.

However, there is only so much a school can do to dampen the effects of a chaotic home life. I firmly believe that, in many cases, the Herculean efforts of teachers, counselors, etc. on behalf of these children are wasted.  In the absence of fundamental changes at home, there is little that can be done at school.  Sure, the kids can have a warm meal or two, but will that have a meaningful impact on their lives?

I am not advocating that DCPS write these children off.  On the contrary, I would advocate for a CFSA-DCPS partnership, in which DCPS opens a number of public boarding schools to serve these children and CFSA uses its authority to place children in these boarding schools until the parent(s) get(s) her(their) act(s) together.

Imagine how dramatically the outcomes for these kids would improve if overnight they moved from a chaotic environment to one in which they received three healthy meals per day, 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night, a complete wardrobe, preventive medical & dental care, glasses when needed, teachers to help with homework, a caring to read to them at bedtime and tuck them in, etc.

Its much easier to bear children than to raise them well.
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