West Madison gifted fourth-graders take message to Alabama capitol

West Madison students ‘lobbying’ for gifted funding in Montgomery are Adam Baer and Jack Satcher (left row), Dylan Harbour, Joshua Cagle, Aubteen pour Biazar and Mike Zhang (middle row) and Lauren Martin and Ben Jones (right row).

MADISON – Fourth-graders in gifted study at West Madison Elementary School made a statement at the State Capitol.

Fourth-grader Dylan Harbour learned about limited funding for gifted study and started a T-shirt campaign. On their annual field trip to Montgomery, Dylan and his classmates wore neon yellow T-shirts emblazoned with the message, “FUND Gifted Education.”

“On April 3, these students felt like they had a voice,” Kathryn Harbour, Dylan’s mother, said.

Students who ‘lobbied’ in Montgomery are Adam Baer, Aubteen pour Biazar, Joshua Cagle, Dylan Harbour, Ben Jones, Lauren Martin, Jack Satcher and Mike Zhang.

Their trip correlated with study in government and Alabama state history, gifted specialist Wendy Tibbs said.

“From my sources, the amount allocated statewide in fiscal year 2014 per student was $2.63,” Tibbs said. “That totals $1,050,000. Madison City Schools received approximately $12,425.”

Fortunately, Madison administrators “recognize the need to have a gifted program and provide funding for a teacher at each elementary school,” Tibbs said.

To design the T-shirt, Dylan used online sources for color, wording and font. A local business, Image Directly, printed the shirts.

Bold, capital letters “made a point. It was short because people don’t take the time to read long sentences,” Dylan said. “Our T-shirts were noticed.”

Sen. Bill Holtzclaw (R-Madison) welcomed the Madison visitors and “was visibly impressed with the shirts,” Tibbs said.

To admit a student to gifted study, teachers follow state guidelines. “On that matrix, a formula includes aptitude (test) scores, teacher rating scale and student work samples (for) a combined ‘picture,'” Tibbs said.

“We learn about different and better stuff than in regular class,” gifted fourth-grader Adam Baer said. “We do fun stuff — not just paper and pencil. It’s a privilege to be in gifted.”

Fourth-grader Aubteen Biazar is “almost positive the gifted program will get more money next year … because the senator saw our T-shirts.”

The students also visited the Rosa Parks Museum, State Archives, Tucker’s Ice Cream Shop and The First White House of the Confederacy.