Why would you expect someone who doesn't have a stable home life, good nutrition, or good role models to succeed in a gifted program? Why are these factors somehow distinct when determining whether a person is "intelligent"? How would failing the tests "compound" these problems if the outcome of failure is that nothing happens to you?
Edit: also your link doesn't cite any serious claim that these tests are inappropriate for use within a westernized country like the US.
> Why would you expect someone who doesn't have a stable home life, good nutrition, or good role models to succeed in a gifted program?
Interesting. To me it seems like intelligent students with negative environmental factors would yield the highest ROI from being admitted into a gifted program. Just look at the testimonials from commenters in this thread who came from humble beginnings and credit gifted programs with helping them climb the social ladder. Whereas sufficiently well-off kids have parents who can make sure they get excellent educational resources and will be fine regardless of how they score on some test.
> Edit: also your link doesn't cite any serious claim that these tests are inappropriate for use within a westernized country like the US.
To be clear, I agree that concerns about inherent cultural bias within the tests themselves are somewhat overblown. The real issue is that the tests do not solely measure intelligence and yet we act as if they do.
How would admitting someone to a gifted program affect their nutrition, or domestic situation? Many of the testimonials from commenters read as children who were under-stimulated, not malnourished. In this case there would be no reason to expect they wouldn't be able to meet the criteria (pass the test) of these programs.
Indeed placing smart kids into gifted programs does help them, that's why these programs should not be abolished. However IQ doesn't fluctuate that much over one's lifespan, so at worst we're missing some children on the edges, which is inevitable in any human system.
Gitfed programs are essentially a misnomer. It's really a program where they are given better resources, more attention, and good role models and peer groups. Viewed this way anyone would benefit from it.
Edit: also your link doesn't cite any serious claim that these tests are inappropriate for use within a westernized country like the US.