Teach All Children

Although it is important that the children who are furthest behind not be neglected by our schools, it is also important that the children who are furthest ahead not be penalized in the effort. When the focus is solely on the least school-ready children, the more highly gifted kids are being held back to a level they surpassed long ago.

Is it any surprise that they become discouraged, bored and face discipline problems? All children, however successful, need, as Scott Pleune pointed out in his fine Dec. 25 letter, “loving, patient, creative, skilled, inspiring and daily individual instruction.” “Leave no child behind” must be tailored to each individual child’s pace, however fast or slow, if it is truly to be a success.

Suzanne Cooper

Los Angeles