...And All the Children are Above Average

Mongomery County will no longer recognize gifted students. Given No Child Gets Ahead, that's hardly surprising. But this is:

Two-fifths of Montgomery students are considered gifted on the basis of aptitude tests, schoolwork, expert opinion and parents' wishes.

Parents' wishes? How exactly does that work?

Parent: Gee, I wish my kid was gifted instead of being dumber than a rock.
School Administrator: Well, ma'am, call me Cinderella, because I can make your wishes come true.

But never fear because "School system leaders say losing the label won't change gifted instruction, because it is open to all students."

Ah. Yes. Well. That would certainly explain our academic declines in recent decades.