Question

Among the budget cuts that the city council is considering is a 5 percent reduction in funds for secondary education. As the principal of one of the junior high schools that could be affected, Stella is worried. Such a reduction would almost certainly mean teacher layoffs and fewer teachers teaching more students.

Currently the school offers basic math and english courses for students on three levels: average, below average, and above average. However, a smaller budget may require offering only two levels next year. One possibility that Stella is considering is dropping the accelerated courses. After all, the bright kids would do well no matter what. On the other hand, dropping courses designed for below average student would mean that those students would not get the extra attention that they need. Stella think that if push comes to shove,its the honors program that will have to go.

Answer the following questions:

1 - What solution would you offer if you were Stella and there were budget cuts in your school?

2 - Is Stella right that bright kids will do well no matter what? Explain your answer.

3 - At what age is intelligence set? Is there anything you can do to improve your intelligence score on an IQ test?

4 - Should gifted students and below average students be integrated into the same class? Explain.

Answer 1

1)If there are budget cuts in the school it will no doubt save cost in the short run but it leads to lot of problems as many students will not get the courses they want to graduate .It also increases child care cost for parents.There is no logic to deprive the students of child care opportunities.Offering on line courses is better than offering nothing at all because of reduction in budget. On line courses may have better learning out comes. On line courses will also help the state to do more with less cost.

2)A bright child works hard to achieve something.A bright child wants to learn and an average class room teacher gives him what he wants.The child has clear expectation and knows what he craves .So Stella is right.

3)Children's intelligence keep on changing and only at the age of 10 intelligence stabilises. For this reaso IQ tests are taken at 11 or 12 years of age.Yes IQ can change over the years. It changes more during adolescence .However it is seen that IQ tests give more or less the same result in many cases even after years.IQ may change with schooling.Life experiences and school related experiences may change IQ.

4)All students are gifted in someway.There are no gifted or talented students in school who may be differentiated from below average.Gifted students learn at same pace as other students.Below average students do not look to gifted students as role model.In a mixed class gifted students can help students who are below average and this is beneficial.