A Reason for Charter Schools?

TRIGGER WARNING:  Comments on Public Schools.
For John, BLUF:  This is probably you, John.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Writing in The Washington Post, Columnist Jay Mathews asks "Why are American schools slowing down so many bright children?".

The lede.

Vicki Schulkin, a Northern Virginia parent, knew her son Matt was bright but did not think this was a problem until some of his teachers began to bristle at the erratic working habits that sometimes accompany intellectual gifts.

Further down in the article we have this:

At the Belin-Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at the University of Iowa’s College of Education, this is old news.  In 2004, it published an extensive report, “A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students,” with research showing that children like Matt were poorly served.

Now the center has done a follow-up, “A Nation Empowered: Evidence Trumps the Excuses Holding Back America’s Brightest Students.”  Its 345 pages have encouraging stories about gifted children like Matt being allowed to accelerate their learning.  But authors Susan G. Assouline, Nicholas Colangelo and Joyce VanTassel-Baska remain frustrated with school administrators and legislators impeding students who would do better in more challenging classes.

Could this be your school?  Maybe read the linked reports.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff