[Ohiogift] GIFTED SERVICES IN OHIO: ONE GIANT LEAP BACKWARDS

[Katie Thurston]

Hey All-

A few years back when my son Zachary had trouble in school (he was
charged with a first-degree felony by our joke of an "excellent"
school district for swinging at, then tossing a mini keyring toy at
the principal and special ed. teacher when they caught him leaving the
school he hated ), I was still actively seeking support in our plight.
I wrote legislators, asked others, joined the local parents of gifted
group- in short, I did everything I could find to do. Did it help us?
Not really, except for the few folks who responded kindly online with
supportive advice.

My son's test scores have progressively gone downhill in the years
since he was returned to said district in sixth grade. Those scores
were at the top ranking then, even AFTER his removal to a 'special
school' with a watered down curriculum for a year after his court case
concluded. I am angry, but not defeated. This year over the objections
of some people, I have chosen to homeschool him. Although we have
gotten a late start, I am desperate, as Z got 7 "F"s in the 9th grade.

You want me to put forth an effort? I HAVE. To little, if any, avail.
My son is brilliant. And extremely jaded regarding school. He is
socially outcast as well. And, by the way, he has not gotten into ANY
more trouble....which is to say, his spirit is at least partially
broken.

Am I surprised that gifted services get short shrift? Not in the least. We have.

Kathleen "Katie" Thurston

On 9/6/13, Sandra Warren <Sandra at arliebooks.com> wrote:
> Dear Ann, Educators and Parents of Ohio's Gifted Children,
>
> I am saddened and disheartened by what I'm reading on Ohiogift, about the
> proposed changes in services for Gifted children. It seems incredible that
> in 2013, State school administrators and legislators could be a part of
> such a gigantic leap backwards. And I have to wonder, WHERE ARE THE
> PARENTS, AND, WHY ARE THEY LETTING THIS HAPPEN?
>
> Too harsh, you say? I don't think so. Schools have traditionally supplied
> services demanded by the public. One only needs to look at the history of
> services for Special Education which came about because back in the 1960's
> and 1970's, PARENTS got together and demanded them. Those services became
> guaranteed via Public Law 94-142. Now, I may have the years mixed up and I
> know Public Law 94-142 has changed but what hasn't changed is society's
> commitment to the needs of Special Education Children. AND RIGHTLY SO! I'm
> not here to say anything against that. I use it only as a case in point.
> Nothing changed until PARENTS made the difference.
>
> When the Public, who in this case happen to be the PARENTS OF THE GIFTED,
> won't step forward and rally for their own children, new services become
> non-existent and the few services that do exist and the budgets that
> support them, get the axe. By the way, the services that do exist, ONLY
> exist because years ago parents rallied and demanded them.
>
> Yes, it's a battle, the biggest being the MYTHS about the population of the
> Gifted. Egos take the place of the scientific evidence and research that
> shows over and over again, even going back as far as the 1920's with the
> work of Leta Hollingsworth, that gifted children learn and socialize
> differently than others and NEED diversified education and services taught
> by educators trained in that diversification. Not more or better
> educational services, just different services.
>
> PARENTS - YOU need to become knowledgeable and FIGHT for your GIFTED CHILD.
> FIGHT AS IF THEIR FOOTBALL PROGRAM WAS BEING TAKEN AWAY! How great would
> your school's football team be if they were only allowed to practice ONE
> HOUR A WEEK! I'll bet you wouldn't stand for that.
>
> Remember: Your children are gifted 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. It's
> ridiculous for your school to only allow them to be who they are one-hour a
> week.
>
> YES, getting involved takes time! But then, anything worth while takes time
> and aren't your children worth it?
>
> Listen to ANN SHELDON! She's been working hard for years and I'm sure has
> been having many sleepless nights over these changes that will affect YOUR
> GIFTED CHILD...yes...YOUR GIFTED CHILD! Ann herself is a parent of gifted
> children and came to her position to fight for YOUR gifted child after
> fighting for years for her own. Her passion for appropriate services for
> her children afforded her the opportunity to fight for yours! Stand tall
> with her. She needs each and every one of you.
>
> At the LEAST: email the legislators she's asked you to email. How long does
> it take to draft one letter and email it to the list of public servants?
> 15-minutes maybe?
> BETTER YET: SHOW up and STAND UP to be counted at the hearings. When 15 to
> 20 show up, legislators take notice. Imagine hundreds storming their
> doorsteps!
> EVEN BETTER YET: Bring your gifted child with you. Let them tell
> legislators what it will mean to lose their gifted program.
> EVEN BETTER YET:  Rally other parents in your school system, your
> neighborhood, your town.
> START a Parents of the Gifted Group so you can learn how to dis-spell the
> myths and ask for the support appropriate services your child needs.
> JOIN OAGC--The Ohio Association for Gifted Children--a group that has it
> roots in the Cleveland Major Work Program way back in the 1930's, give or
> take a few years, so you be a part of a state, national and world network
> of parents and educators working hard for gifted children.
>
> Ohio parents of the gifted: Please don't let these changes happen. Your
> child's appropriate education hangs in the balance. Get involved.
>
> Parents have ALL the Power, if they'll just use it!
>
> Sandra
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> --
> *It's HERE! *-- *Arlie the Alligator *on eBook and Amazon - same story -
> wonderful songs -NEW illustrations all newly packaged! Check it out on
> Amazon.com
>
> Author of Arlie the Alligator and other books for children and adults!
> www.sandrawarren.com
> www.arliebooks.com
> http://sandrawarrenwrites.blogspot.com
> http://twitter.com/SandraWarrenNC
>