Bethesda Elementary Discovers First Ungifted Child
Routine testing confirmed administrators’ worst fears: A child of average academic ability was enrolled at their school. The child, whose identity is being protected, has been provided with round-the-clock remedial help in all subjects in order to keep up with peers. Still, when a BWN reporter visited the school, it was clear that the child could not be protected from ridicule: “Johnny reads on grade level! Johnny reads on grade level!” the other children chanted in the halls on the way to recess.
The boy’s mother lamented, “He walked on schedule, he talked on schedule. We should’ve known there was something terribly wrong.“ As the parents look into tutoring and temporary home-schooling, the boy’s future is uncertain.
“We gave him every advantage,” said his father, holding back tears. “And still, he’s eight, and he can’t divide decimals.”
A school administrator who asked to remain anonymous expressed hope that the parents will “do the right thing” and remove the child from the school. “We’re talking with officials about transferring him to a more appropriate elementary school in the eastern part of the county,” the official confided. “We obviously have the best interest of the child in mind here, and we know he would not be comfortable if his presence here jeopardized our school-wide test scores and county ranking.”
A PTA member who was briefed on the situation was heard to remark, “There go the property values.”
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Mediocrity is a gift in 2081X