4 ms·

Equity matters for education, but not the sports teams? If the conversation about gifted and talented programs doesn't include the other activities the school

Equity matters for education, but not the sports teams? If the conversation about gifted and talented programs doesn't include the other activities the school sponsors, then its not fair. We've eliminated voc-ed and now g&t programs. I bet sports cost a bunch.

jimbob45 4y ago
I'd say I learned much more from the elementary school and middle school sports programs I participated in than I ever learned from the gifted/talented programs I participated in. I find it to be a terrible shame that high school sports are so often limited in participation by elitism (e.g. basketball limited to 10 players, volleyball to ~12, cheerleading to ~20). I would wholeheartedly support removing limits on high school sports participation. The free market can suck away the elite athletes if they don't feel that high school sports are adequate for their professional development - that's fine, high school should cater to the majority, not an infinitesimal minority.
- protomyth 4y ago
  Regardless of the usefulness of sports in schools (and I do believe they are useful), you point out that they are "often limited in participation by elitism" much as I suppose the critics of gifted & talented programs would say of those programs. If so, then they must be studied to make sure they don't disproportionately exclude certain racial groups. If racial imbalance is a guideline for cancellation then it should apply to every program and activity.
  - jimbob45 4y ago
    In your equivalence, the "sport" is studying math (or something) and everyone is participating, simply on different levels. Your equivalence would only work if the non-gifted students weren't allowed to study anything at all.
    - erichocean 4y ago
      ? Everyone in school studies math and reading. Everyone is participating, simply on different levels. I guess I don't understand your comment at all.
      - jimbob45 4y ago
        That's my point. Parent poster was saying that excluding students from high school sports was the same as excluding them from gifted programs. I countered by saying that, for the equivalence to work, the students wouldn't be able to study at all to be like exclusion from high school sports.
    - protomyth 4y ago
      No. Both sports and gifted & talented programs require students that are more "gifted" at the activity to participate. If this elitist selection is bad for one then it is bad for the other.

jimbob45 4y ago

I'd say I learned much more from the elementary school and middle school sports programs I participated in than I ever learned from the gifted/talented programs I participated in. I find it to be a terrible shame that high school sports are so often limited in participation by elitism (e.g. basketball limited to 10 players, volleyball to ~12, cheerleading to ~20). I would wholeheartedly support removing limits on high school sports participation. The free market can suck away the elite athletes if they don't feel that high school sports are adequate for their professional development - that's fine, high school should cater to the majority, not an infinitesimal minority.

protomyth 4y ago
Regardless of the usefulness of sports in schools (and I do believe they are useful), you point out that they are "often limited in participation by elitism" much as I suppose the critics of gifted & talented programs would say of those programs. If so, then they must be studied to make sure they don't disproportionately exclude certain racial groups. If racial imbalance is a guideline for cancellation then it should apply to every program and activity.
- jimbob45 4y ago
  In your equivalence, the "sport" is studying math (or something) and everyone is participating, simply on different levels. Your equivalence would only work if the non-gifted students weren't allowed to study anything at all.
  - erichocean 4y ago
    ? Everyone in school studies math and reading. Everyone is participating, simply on different levels. I guess I don't understand your comment at all.
    - jimbob45 4y ago
      That's my point. Parent poster was saying that excluding students from high school sports was the same as excluding them from gifted programs. I countered by saying that, for the equivalence to work, the students wouldn't be able to study at all to be like exclusion from high school sports.
  - protomyth 4y ago
    No. Both sports and gifted & talented programs require students that are more "gifted" at the activity to participate. If this elitist selection is bad for one then it is bad for the other.