West Madison students address House Ways & Means Committee

Joy Robinson, sixth grader from West Madison Elementary School, addresses the House Ways and Means committee regarding the importance of funding gifted education. (CONTRIBUTED)

West Madison Elementary School gifted specialist Wendy Tibbs and fifth-grader Dylan Harbour receive West Madison’s resolution read to the Alabama House of Representatives from Rep. Mac McCutcheon. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Joy Robinson, West Madison Elementary School sixth-grader, gained valuable insight during a visit with her classmates to the Alabama State Legislature.

“If you have a problem you would like to fix in our society, you can go as far as you want to go and always keep trying to make a difference,” Robinson said. In Montgomery, Robinson addressed the House Ways and Means committee about the importance of funding gifted education.

On April 8, 42 fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders in gifted study with Wendy Tibbs and several parents pursued the real-life civics lesson.

All fourth-graders study state government and go to Montgomery. Last year, Tibbs’ students learned about Alabama’s lack of funding for gifted programs. Student Dylan Harbour started a campaign with T-shirts stating “FUND Gifted Education.” Several students wore the T-shirts to Montgomery in 2014, catching the eye of Sen. Bill Holtzclaw and Rep. Mac McCutcheon.

After that trip, McCutcheon visited Tibbs’ students and encouraged them to draft a resolution he could take to Montgomery. Tibbs’ students enlisted help from former Madison teacher Judy Spray and researched the condition of funding across the country.

McCutcheon invited Tibbs’ students to speak to the House Ways and Means Committee.

The West Madison children met with McCutcheon, and Sen. Arthur Orr. They toured the Herff-Jones plant, which publishes their yearbook.

Several sixth-graders commented on Montgomery. Breiahnna C. “found out that voting on a bill isn’t just an easy job. It takes lots of work to make the right decision for your state. Passing a law is a long, difficult process.”

Gabby A. learned the capitol has “very high security standards. Being recognized on the house floor is a big deal. I felt … as if we changed the way society looks at gifted children forever.”

Lauren W. and Aseel K. watched McCutcheon demonstrating the voting buttons in the Alabama House and “heard our proclamation read out loud.”

Fourth-grader Carolyn H realized “if we didn’t have funds for school, we wouldn’t have technology and lessons to help us succeed.”