A Very Nearly Tea

Ok, with a title like that, I had to see what the article was about. It turned out to be a letter to the editor, but with an interesting question. For some background, Elizabeth is a very gifted young lady who was not able to get the services she needed in the public school to challenge her effectively. Her parents therefore removed her and homeschooled her. She went on to be recognized as the nation's top female mathematician in her age group in the MATHCOUNTS contest. In response to an article, Boston Globe reader Gillian Overholser asks:

Voyagers is an all-volunteer organization that serves approximately 300 children ages 5-18 on less than $100,000 a year. How is it that in this education-rich state, a child such as Elizabeth Synge will get a better education from volunteers with a tiny budget and no state support whatsoever, while other, perhaps equally gifted, students languish in our incredibly expensive public schools? Boston Globe

It's because the problems in education aren't about the money. The cuts that these schools are experiencing in their gifted programs are not the central issue. Gifted students can languish in gifted classrooms as well as they can in regular education classrooms if their specific needs are not being met. They don't need money, but they do need a challenge and room to explore.

While ten year old Rachel Anderson is probably not on her way to instant fame with her little songwriting project, she summarizes her thoughts about school well.

My brain is burning
I know this stuff
My brain is turning to fluff
That's why I'm doin' this. Boston Globe

I remember those days. I also remember the teachers who were able to challenge me, with no bonuses on their paychecks (although probably a lot fewer disruptions from yours truly).