Brian Meersma of West Windsor recently went to Washington, D.C., to meet with Senators Lautenberg and Menendez and Congressman Rush Holt about aid for gifted children — or lack of it (The News, March 17). Meersma, 10, traveled with the New Jersey Association for Gifted children to lobby congressman and senators about Javits funding, a federal program for gifted education that President Bush has cut each year. “With no money for gifted programs the country suffers great losses because gifted children get frustrated from a lack of challenge,” says Meersma. “Then, they turn their brains off and don’t live up to their capabilities.”##M:[more]##
Senator Menendez told the group that he understood that because when he was in the honors program at his school he had to fight the district to get them to pay for his books. Meersma feels that schools should cluster gifted kids and gave Menendez a letter including his ideas.
Holt took a break to meet with Meersma in front of the Committee on Rules room. “I congratulated him for an award he had just received for his support of science education and told him a little bit about my new school (Princeton Friends School) and how we do a lot of hands-on experiments,” says Meersma. “I told him that I think that is a good way for people to learn.”
“Once I got home, I found out that all of the people I met with had signed a dear colleague letter in support of the Javits gifted and talented education program,” says Meersma. “I had a great experience and the trip was a success.”
