Tuesday Links
City Seeking New Test for Gifted Admissions [NY Times] Prospect Park Goose Now Arrow-Free [NY Times] Brooklyn Bookmaker Is Now a Book Writer [WSJ] D Train Gets Whole Lot Dirtier [NY Post] Bangladeshi Youths Protect Elders in East New York [NY Daily News] Group Re-imagines NYC Street Fairs [Brooklyn Eagle] Photo by zlandr
City Seeking New Test for Gifted Admissions [NY Times]
Prospect Park Goose Now Arrow-Free [NY Times]
Brooklyn Bookmaker Is Now a Book Writer [WSJ]
D Train Gets Whole Lot Dirtier [NY Post]
Bangladeshi Youths Protect Elders in East New York [NY Daily News]
Group Re-imagines NYC Street Fairs [Brooklyn Eagle]
Photo by zlandr
The system of G&T was better when it was handled by the local school districts, BEFORE Emperor Bloomberg and No-Nothing Klein started decimating the school system.
The DOE spokesperson basically says the current G&T test is wonderful, perfect … but we’re looking for something better. That’s sort of like how they are making major improvements in the school system, but they have to completely revamp its organization yearly. If something is that good, you don’t keep changing it.
I taught for the Board of Ed for over 3 decades and I had many bright kids, Butterfly, some perhaps even more intelligent than you. I still remember a really sharp group of 2nd graders on 120th St in East Harlem. Even in that bright class, there were 5 kids (possibly a 6th) who would have impressed even you with their intelligence and maturity for their age.
Testing kids for G&T programs is not an exact science. Nothing is. You admit more students to the G&T program than are probably “gifted” in the hope of not leaving out kids who actually ARE. Those extra kids are still pretty bright and do gain from an enriched program. Apparently, though, the DOE, in their infinite wisdom, have admitted even fewer minority children into their G&T programs than were admitted in the “bad old days” of the Bd of Ed. Maybe there’s a little prejudice at work?
my kid got a 99%, and we did not get a city wide placement, but it’s ok, because it would have presented a big commute hassle and friends would not be close by like now.
while the IQ test given at 4th grade or whatever may make sense, the frustrating part of being a parent of a smarter/more advanced little kid, is that even at the K level, that kid is ready to learn more and learn faster. they typically do not receive the information that they are ready to learn because you can’t leave the less advanced kids too far behind.
we were lucky in pre-k to have an extremely attentive teacher, so hanging in there, but the kid has flat out asked for more reading and math, and the level of workbooks that said child can do on their own is at more like a 1st-2nd grade level. from an education only (not lifestyle) perspective, was curious to see if a citywide would have provided a quicker pace.
agree about changing the test to prevent too much coaching. our kid did zero coaching and scored the 99%, so feel a bit cheated.
Another issue with the test is that around 1k children score the best possible 99 percentile! For less than 300 citywide spots. For the citywide schools a 99th percentile result gives you a crap-shot lottery ticket into citywide schools.
I’m with you, Bklyn Chicken. Why not a standard IQ test, given in 3rd grade, like most people who study these things agree is the best indicator? And send the top 2% to a G&T, not the top 10%. And while we are at it, let’s not keep cutting budgets to local zoned schools so parents stay there instead of pushing their kids into “G&T” programs at such a young age!
are you f’ing kidding me the prices of those rent vouchers. AND free food stamps? ugh. almost 5K voucer for a studio? im sorry but studios are not THAT expensive on the UES :-/ something smells fishy.
and i hate the term “gifted” when describing a child. please, the grinch has more gift in him than 99 percent of those “gifted” children. most likely they only seem gifted compared to most kids in nyc cuz most cuz in nyc are just flat out unintelligent and barbaric.
*rob*
Please, please let’s give up on the notion of “gifted kindergarteners.” That is simply crazy. Accelerated programs should start in the 4th grade. There is no test in the world that can truly evaluate the intelligence and potential of a 4-year-old!
Nah. I’m targeting an apartment on Poplar Street so that I can be bought off when they raze it for the BQE construction.
I bet you all wish you lived in a 5th floor walkup studio on the UES right now….
http://dnainfo.com/20100622/upper-east-side/mta-doles-out-big-money-for-renters-along-second-ave-subway-construction
“Those who choose the rent voucher will receive $4,810 a month for a studio apartment, $6,000 a month for a one-bedroom, and $9,000 a month for a two-bedroom, the Post reported.
In addition to the stipend, residents will receive $40 a day for food and moving costs, the paper reported.”
Where exactly are the police in East New York???