Is Zohran Mamdani wrong to want to rid of gifted programs?

The Oct. 4 editorial “Damaging education in the name of equity” did not consider that the issue of equity in the context of gifted education is not just about racial exclusion (which is indeed significant). It’s also about segregation by ability. By uncritically accepting gifted education as a rational response to the diversity of abilities in the student population, the Editorial Board espoused a tiered system of schooling that permits different kinds of learning experiences for different groups of children. The board suggested that gifted education is necessary to meet the needs of “bright children.” By this argument, other groups of learners, including many children with disabilities, should receive a separate form of education to fulfill their needs.