If you're a parent who puts themselves in Oliver Luck's shoes, you might identify with this; if you have no children, as a fan, it might prove more elusive.
Your son has been tested out to be a gifted child, and about to start his developmental education. To that end you're in a certain school district so it appears you really don't have a choice where to send him, but in reality, you're a big shot in the community, have worked for the government and understand how to "work the system" so in fact you well might have a say in where your son gets to be educationally nurtured.
School M's principal is relatively new at the job, hasn't really run the school well and in fact has embarrassed himself and the school on more than one occasion. He has demonstrated that he's basically tone deaf when it comes to his students' parents concerns and demands. On top of that, his administrators making critical educational decisions have turned over several times, insulted some parents and have generally done a poor job borne out by sub-standard if not awful district test scores. The principal informs you that he is putting in a new regime, but unless you're aware of their past accomplishments as educators and assured that the principal won't interfere or meddle, just how confident are you entrusting your child's formative fertile mind to this environment?
On the other hand, if you manipulate the system one way or another, there's another school, "School I" with an older student whose mental capabilities was very similar to your son's and has been developed and nurtured to a point where he's one of the most outstanding older students in sight. Moreover, he is happy to take a special interest in and mentor your son. The principal comes from a long line of respected educators and has been in place in a stable environment for many years. His chief administrator is known far and wide as being among the most innovative and effective of his peers. You're gonna feel pretty secure in how they're gonna position your child for success, right?
Finally, there's another school "D" which is as spotty as the first one.. has had about as many highs and lows over the years and just about as many turnovers. However, unlike school A, the principal has been in place for some time and has proven himself to be both patient and supportive - sometimes almost to a fault. However, what's particularly attractive about them is the new administrator who now retired from competitive academics, is in the record books as one of the best educators ever, has a background much in common with your son's, as his dad's had with your own and he himself is anxious to mentor your sons educational development to hopefully reach the illustrious heights that his own scaled.
As a parent who knows all too well that how and where your gifted child launches his formal education is critical to his overall success, would you really care that public opinion goes against you or that you might need to forcefully rock the boat if your precious child's developmental future is at stake?
Your son has been tested out to be a gifted child, and about to start his developmental education. To that end you're in a certain school district so it appears you really don't have a choice where to send him, but in reality, you're a big shot in the community, have worked for the government and understand how to "work the system" so in fact you well might have a say in where your son gets to be educationally nurtured.
School M's principal is relatively new at the job, hasn't really run the school well and in fact has embarrassed himself and the school on more than one occasion. He has demonstrated that he's basically tone deaf when it comes to his students' parents concerns and demands. On top of that, his administrators making critical educational decisions have turned over several times, insulted some parents and have generally done a poor job borne out by sub-standard if not awful district test scores. The principal informs you that he is putting in a new regime, but unless you're aware of their past accomplishments as educators and assured that the principal won't interfere or meddle, just how confident are you entrusting your child's formative fertile mind to this environment?
On the other hand, if you manipulate the system one way or another, there's another school, "School I" with an older student whose mental capabilities was very similar to your son's and has been developed and nurtured to a point where he's one of the most outstanding older students in sight. Moreover, he is happy to take a special interest in and mentor your son. The principal comes from a long line of respected educators and has been in place in a stable environment for many years. His chief administrator is known far and wide as being among the most innovative and effective of his peers. You're gonna feel pretty secure in how they're gonna position your child for success, right?
Finally, there's another school "D" which is as spotty as the first one.. has had about as many highs and lows over the years and just about as many turnovers. However, unlike school A, the principal has been in place for some time and has proven himself to be both patient and supportive - sometimes almost to a fault. However, what's particularly attractive about them is the new administrator who now retired from competitive academics, is in the record books as one of the best educators ever, has a background much in common with your son's, as his dad's had with your own and he himself is anxious to mentor your sons educational development to hopefully reach the illustrious heights that his own scaled.
As a parent who knows all too well that how and where your gifted child launches his formal education is critical to his overall success, would you really care that public opinion goes against you or that you might need to forcefully rock the boat if your precious child's developmental future is at stake?
