It seems as if the U.S. Department of Education has proposed moving whatever support it gives to gifted and talented students to all students.
For over a year now, national organizations that support gifted children, including the umbrella organization of almost all other programs, the National Association of Gifted Children, or NAGC, have been warning everyone about the U.S. Department of Education’s plans to emasculate the only federal program that supports gifted students.
The fact of the matter is that the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Act of 1994 was written and designed to support children who have been identified as gifted and talented. While some of the principals of gifted education can help some other students in the classroom, the spirit behind the Act has been to support gifted children.
It Does Not Stop There...
Further, the president has once again proposed cutting the Javits Act altogether in the 2009 budget, claiming that the work is already being done by the states. This seems like an expos facto argument, however. If the federal government were doing anything to support our greatest national resource, gifted and talented children, the states wouldn’t have to shoulder the entire burden in the first place.
I have said this before - if you have a gifted child or teach a gifted child, don’t rely on big government to help you out. You have a very special and valuable ‘gift’ in your home or classroom, and your good efforts will help. Get as much support as you can from the advocacy groups, stay strong and stay your course!
