To the Editor:
I am so disappointed in the article “Study Finds Gifted Classes Don’t Benefit Pupils at the Margin” (Education Week, July 13, 2011). I am not sure what—if any—merit this so-called study has or why you bothered with an article.
I have been involved in gifted education for the past 15 years and have worked in several states, but have never heard of gifted identification at the 80th percentile. Then to add the extremely subjective teacher recommendation to the mix and to give points based on socioeconomic status, disabilities, or English-as-a-second-language status? Really?
If 20 percent of your students are eligible for a program, perhaps you need to look at the program, and if the term “gifted” is relative. I would suggest that those who conducted this survey take a course in Gifted 101 and learn the basics before bashing gifted education, which turns out to be not gifted education at all.
Deborah Glynn
Cincinnati, Ohio
