how refreshing to hear the truth about the gifted clASS.
why didnt someone check into this before? is mike lannon so intimidating that we allow this clown to down dumb the kids?
there was this kid i know took a chemistry class. for 9 week it went very well. however after mr lannon approved, the kids class went from chemistry class to fcat science. seem mr lannon wanted to bring up science scores to make fcat look important.
one other thing mr lannon enforced a dress code so that everyone would feel good about themselves! another lannon bellywflopper!
maybe its time to say bye mke , we wont miss you!

4:03:45 a.m. on May 24, 2007
FRANK FOSTER | 05.24.07 - 4:08 am | # |Report as offensive

Horray! Finally, calling a spade, a spade. It's mumbo jumbo double talk like the comment from Fran Adams that has allowed these people to get away with this stuff for too long.

But your philosophical theory peddling mentality away and show us where the money is going!

Plain and simple.

6:27:57 a.m. on May 24, 2007
P.C. MADISON | 05.24.07 - 6:32 am | # |Report as offensive

Don't a lot of schools already have looser standards for minorities? They don't need to lower them any further, they just need to figure out how to motivate them. There are many gifted minorities but some of them just don't want the extra challenge. One bright 1st grader in particular comes to mind (though there have been many) that would not do his work unless bribed or cajoled. He was tested for the gifted program (when they had one) but just wouldn't cooperate and answer the questions.
Now the gifted program for 1st or 2nd grade at that school relies on a volunteer working with kids from just two of the classes once a week. They do deserve better!

7:28:57 a.m. on May 24, 2007
ANGELA FERBER | 05.24.07 - 7:33 am | # |Report as offensive

Cookie cutter education leaves much to be desired. My son went to the IB program at South Fork and had to repeat an entire year of advanced math because no other math class was available. Thanks to the boredom of that situation, he went to a private school the next year.

Until public education takes seriously the job of stimulating the nrightest and the best, we will have the problem of the talent pool going elsewhere. Public schools have more than enough slackers. They really need the bright ones too.

12:51:59 p.m. on May 24, 2007
DAVID MYHRE | 05.24.07 - 12:56 pm | # |Report as offensive

Great write, Ken Ward. Millions of gifted dollars has been taken from the gifted class and funneled to the expensive, useless IB program at SRHS. Even the gifted teachers were not aware of funds that were specifically for them. Not ONE of the gifted teachers in this county were EVER sent to any enrichment conferences throughout the state, while the District continues to spend $$ on Title I administrators even though there are no more Title I schools in the district! Where has the gifted money gone? We need answers.

10:18:28 p.m. on May 24, 2007
MARYANNE GAMBONI | 05.24.07 - 10:23 pm | # |Report as offensive

Folks: Let's get REAL !@#$%^&* At VBHS in Grade 10 a full 64% of students COULD NOT read at grade level. In Math 32% of students did not perform at grade level.
Hold this Board accountable for results and don't accept excuses for non-performance----YOUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE DEPENDS ON IT.

8:15:12 p.m. on May 27, 2007
GEORGE LANGE | 05.27.07 - 8:20 pm | # |Report as offensive

Parent concerns are so justified!!
Although I am the loudest parent advocate for gifted kids in Palm Beach County, I share your concern that the nation is turning its back on its best and brightest while "leaving no child behind". Has there been an effort to organize as parents? Flood the board meetings and newspapers with your concerns. I
firmly believe that parents must refuse to accept the continued ignoring of our children's unique needs and insist on appropriate programming for them. The complacency of too many allows the wasting of our gifted kids' potential
to continue. I salute the actions of the rightfully unhappy parents! Stand up for our neglected gifted students!!!

11:22:48 a.m. on June 2, 2007
DIANE HANFMANN | 06.02.07 - 11:27 am | # |Report as offensive