Gifted Atlanta

“Gifted kids will be fine regardless.”

This common misconception burns me up every time I hear it, which is why I appreciated an opinion piece, “High-achieving students deserve to be challenged in school,” written by University of Delaware assistant professor Kenneth Shores and published in November by the Brookings Institute.

Shores argues that students who are above grade level often endure days, weeks, and months of boredom in school, especially at the elementary level. Shores finds it unconscionable that advanced students languish for years under the premise that they won’t be harmed. To the contrary, Shores says, the constant boredom is harmful.

Possible solutions he suggests include grouping kids by ability rather than by age, or using technology to allow students to move on to more challenging material.

The piece is about a 10-minute read. I’d recommend it if you’re interested in gifted advocacy in our public schools, either locally or nationally. It would also be good reading to psych yourself up before meeting with a school administrator if you have a child who’s suffering from regular boredom in his or her classroom, as it’s a well-argued reminder that advanced students deserve the chance to learn and grow, not just attend school.