EP 52 When the “GATES” are Literally and Figuratively Closed to Gifted and Talented Education for Black Students, with Dr Donna Y. Ford and Dr James L Moore III

In The Margins

In this episode of In The Margins, Drs. Donna Y. Ford and James L. Moore III discuss their October 11, 2021 Diverse Op-ed column, “When the ‘Gates’ are Literally and Figuratively Closed to Gifted and Talented Education for Black Students.”

Amid the recent changes to gifted education in New York City, our guests, led by moderator Dr. Jamal Watson, break down what these changes mean, or don’t mean, for marginalized students.

KEY POINTS:

• The history of “Gifted and Talented Education” (GATE)
• Exclusionary admission practices - what are they and how are they employed?
• Who are the “gatekeepers”?
• Why eliminating GATE is not the solution
• Reimagining GATE and steps for reform

QUOTABLES:

“You will find in almost every state, that almost every school district, no matter how black and brown it is, no matter how affluent or low income it is, it does not matter. Black students will almost always be the most underrepresented in gifted education.”

“The education will change, but the system is still the same. The people are still the same. The racist mindsets are still the same. The classism is still the same. So whatever is put in the place of gifted programs will still be corrupt and it will contribute to inequitable under-representation for mainly black students.”

“When you see teachers who look like you, or administrators who look like you, it gives you hope and aspiration. And when we have these minoritized professionals, they are cultural brokers, who are able to identify the strength, the gifts, the assets, the talents in children that white teachers thus far do not see.”

GUEST RESOURCES:

When the ‘Gates’ are Literally and Figuratively Closed to Gifted and Talented Education for Black Students: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion­/article/15279732/when-the-gates-are-lit­erally-and-figuratively-closed-to-gifted­-and-talented-education-for-black-studen­ts

PRODUCTS / RESOURCES:

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