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Show Sounds Like Greek, But It's Not By TOM BUSSELBERG The Program for Gifted and Talented. WHEN SOME people think of a person called "gifted," they picture a thin, bespectacled young man, curled up in the corner of a library, head buried in a book, setting his eyes on food long enough just to grab the bare essentials of food to survive and then go back to it. One look at the Davis Academy Program, though, and that conception con-ception should fly out the window. AS EXPLAINED by Program Director Larry Wilson, aim for the program that started last fall is "to offer classes throughout the district which will meet student needs for challenge-level courses" in general academic aptitude, more specific academic areas, creative crea-tive and productive thinking, leadership, visual and performing arts and psychomotor areas. If that sounds like Greek, it translates into a range of classes currently offered from beginning computer science offered at five high schools and an elementary school, creative writing, beginning Spanish and French to theater workshop, electronics and 6th grade band. CLASSES OPERATE for one afternoon or evening a week at 1-1 Vi hours over eight weeks and are supported entirely through tuition, averaging $20. Classes are kept to 20 students with it mandated that students must be recommended by a teacher and-or parents and should have "above average ability, creativity and task commitment." "We've structured it so it's open to everyone but we try to make it challenging," Dr. Wilson said, adding that "we try to avoid the label (of gifted) and build a partnership (with the regular academic program)." NOTING 480 of the just over I, (XX) program participants have been trained in computer use, he calls that a milestone likely unmatched un-matched elsewhere and says he's been asked to explain the program to other educators at a Utah State University conference. "We're being successful in a number of subject areas-we're getting quite a few calls and I hope to be able to continue to expand it," he continued, noting it's hoped a summer program could be implemented. TWO VOLUNTEER parent coordinators assist in gaining input from parents and students, parent groups and PTA council officers to identify courses desired. Carolyn Zaugg oversees it in the south and Edrice Christensen in the north. ; The Davis Academy is set up in line with board of education-approved education-approved goals to increase parent and community involvement; study alternative education programs, use volunteers to support programs, make more use of district facilities and strengthen and support all areas of the curriculum including writing, languages and computer literacy. LOOKING TO the future. Dr. Wilson points to several areas of concern: assuring quality instruction; closer coordination with community school schedules, announcements and publicity to get the word out; development of curriculum for a beginning computer science course in three eight-week sessions, each session building on the other. He'll also look at ways to continue using district teachers as , instructors while encouraging appropriate community people to serve as instructors. There'll also be emphasis on finding ways to generate more student interest in math, science and leadership-type courses. THE POSSIBILITY of eventually offering some academy courses for credit will also be studied. ' ' This could help reduce class loads in some areas in the regular school program," Dr. Wilson notes, and would "also provide some flexibility for students to take additional elective courses" to meet the needs of such areas as added math and science requirements. In addition, other programs are already in place for the so-called "gifted" student, he cmphasies. |
