Parents are scrambling to get their kids tested for the gifted-and-talented programs due to a new admissions process in New York City. Confusion seemed to be the name of the game in an article on nytimes.com as parents sought testing times and locations.
A new admissions process for highly coveted gifted-and-talented programs in the New York City elementary schools has been riddled with glitches, including last-minute notice of entrance exam dates in some areas, fraying the nerves of parents already frazzled about finding schools for their children.
Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein imposed the new admissions process this school year, saying it would ensure fairness in allotting spaces in the gifted programs, which are highly sought after by parents, often as an alternative to what they perceive as mediocre neighborhood schools.
It seems more like a test for the parents. Talk about stress! Anyone who has ever managed to get a 4-year-old dressed, fed, and out the door in a timely manner knows that it isn't easy. Some parents actually applied three times for their children by using the internet, mail, and self delivery method. I can imagine that most of their children were caught up in the stress.
I can just see it now. "Hurry up! Get in the car. You're as gifted as everyone else."