After reading Tyler’s latest blog post, I was compelled to write a rather lengthy reply. I felt a little guilty crowding up his blog so I figured I’d share here…besides, it concerns my favorite subject – me! You may want to read Tyler’s entry and the subsequent replies (and linked article) before continuing, otherwise the following will seem even more nonsensical than usual.

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I was put in gifted classes essentially because I could read when I hit Kindergarten. Actually, I read before that.

Because I could read, I remember being sent to the library to do all kinds of tests and stuff.

Like Tyler’s district, the ‘gifted’ program didn’t begin until 2nd grade. In first grade, I got to go to the 3rd grade class for math and reading classes.

That summer I went to the high school and did a more formal testing. In 2nd grade that fall I was placed in the gifted program. 1/2 day every Monday in the library with Miss Brown and the other handful of gifted students.

After 6th grade, I opted not to continue in the gifted program in Jr. High – I was more interested in music.

I still have a lot of the material we used and worked on in the gifted program and I still think I ‘learned’ more in those 1/2 Mondays than I did in the other 4 1/2 days during the week.

Interestingly, (and I mentioned this a podcast or two ago) in my kids school now, if you can’t read in Kindergarten, you’re considered behind. I just find that amusing as 29 years ago when I went to school, the ability to read is what tipped everyone off that I might be ‘gifted’ – go figure.

No sure that actually added to the conversation – just sharing my story as well…because why do that on my blog? ;)

I do agree with Jeff. NCLB is a complete joke. I don’t have a problem with standardized testing as an arbitrary way of measuring a student’s progress or achievement (as it was in my day), but as the deciding factor as to the ‘success’ of a school district or particular school or teacher or whatever is one of the worst educational ideas ever instituted. Quite simply, in our school district, I don’t feel my kids are learning as much or as well as they could – they’re learning how to pass a standardized test with very specific information. It’s sad, really.

In the school my kids go to, you could get straight A’s all year, but screw up the standardized testing – and you’ll be held back.

Luckily, they have a dad who lives pretty much outside the box to help them along. :)

As far as the linked article goes. No question – ‘gifted learner’ describes me about 98%. I could pull one or two descriptions out of the other two, but just about every description of ‘gifted learner’ applies.

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I’m done sucking my own dick now.