Congratulations are in order for my eldest daughter tonight as she was nominated by her teacher for something called The National Young Scholors Program Apparently, it's a nationwide program where the brightest 3rd, 4th and 5th graders in the nation go to a week-long camp during which they do fun, brainy things. That Ellen was nominated for something like this doesn't in the least surprise me. Quite honestly, nothing that Ellen does academically surprises me at this point. She's as bright a child as I've ever met, and everyone knows it, including, clearly, her teachers.
However, as Kim and I have discussed, if it's a program for someone with a disability or learning or even behavioral problem, the goverment falls over itself to pay for it. If, however, you have a talented and gifted child and the program is to enhance what they do in school because what is available to them in school bores them to tears, it's time for the parents to fork up the dough. How many parents of bright children can afford to send them to this National program? Well, at $1900 for a week, I'm guessing not that many. The priorities of this country are seriously askew.
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