This is the ''gifted cabin'' at Wren Hollow, and Mrs. Spring is the school's ''gifted and talented'' teacher, assigned to provide enrichment for the school's brightest students. These students spend one day a week in the cabin.
Special programs such as this one in Parkway School District west of St. Louis are enabling gifted students to achieve more academically than they would in the regular classroom. Earlier research to this effect was confirmed by a study released last month on elementary programs by the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
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Yet school districts across the country are grappling with what to do about programs for top students. In times of tight budgets, administrators find it politically difficult to defend programs that serve less than 5 percent of the student population. So special instruction for the gifted is often an early victim of budget cuts.
''The reform movement says we really ought not to think about gifted programs,'' says Sally Reis, a researcher at the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented. ''We ought to think about a rich curriculum for all students.'' That sounds like a good idea, she says. ''But if it's appropriate for all kids, then it's going to be too easy for [some].''
Across the country, 26 states mandate that school districts provide gifted programs, although mandates do not guarantee state funding. The types of programs are ''tremendously variable from state to state,'' Ms. Reis says.
Support for gifted programs in public schools has fluctuated through the years as priorities shifted. Some of the first programs appeared after the Soviet Union's Sputnik launch in 1957, when it became a national priority to produce top-notch scientists. Gifted programs languished later in the 1960s era of equality, but revived again to reach their peak in the '70s. In 1993, the US Department of Education released a report announcing a ''quiet crisis'' stemming from neglect of the country's top students.
But, she adds, the danger is that these students will lose interest in school. ''We are creating a tremendous generation of young kids who are extremely bored and don't know how to work,'' Reis says. There is also a likelihood of losing these students to more rigorous private schools, she says.
Advocates of ''gifted'' education are sensitive to the criticism that these programs are elitist and can become exclusive enclaves for wealthier white students. Many districts have moved away from using IQ tests as the only method of identifying exceptional students. Instead they rely on teacher referrals, schoolwork displayed in student portfolios, or innovative testing techniques.
Several years ago, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg, N.C., school system began using tests based on psychologist Howard Gardner's theory of ''multiple intelligences.'' Students are asked to perform in ways that may highlight ''spatial, musical, or kinesthetic'' skills, rather than simply linguistic and mathematical skills.
After the first year of experimenting with the method, the district identified an increased number of minority students as gifted. This meant, for example, that 17 percent of second-graders fell into the gifted category, compared with 10 percent using traditional IQ tests.
In Clayton, Mo., the school district has rejected the traditional approach to teaching gifted students in favor of an ''enrichment system.'' ''We don't use test scores to identify the top 5 percent and have pullout programs with special classes and a different curriculum,'' explains Marilyn Morrison, the district's coordinator for curriculum enrichment.
Instead, all elementary and middle-school students are grouped heterogeneously. ''Enrichment specialists'' focus their attention on students at both the top and bottom. Bright students receive additional work that ''extends the curriculum,'' Ms. Morrison says.
By assessing student needs on an individual basis, the district can reach more than the top 5 percent of students, Morrison says. ''We are satisfied that we're meeting the needs of our students in the best way possible.''
But some parents are less pleased with the results. ''There should be a gifted program that provides opportunities for excellence,'' says parent Martin Rochester. ''The Clayton School District attempts to meet the individual needs of all kids. But I don't think you can really do that with heterogeneous grouping.''
''I've been a passionate public-school advocate for years,'' says another father, who transferred his child to a private school in second grade. ''But I just want my kid challenged and happy. Sometimes that may require special groups. Proficient children have rights too.''
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However, the Braves' few changes this offseason have been significant. Third baseman and likely Hall of Famer Chipper Jones retired at the end of last season after spending his 19-year career with the Braves. They also lost center fielder Michael Bourn, who finished second in the National League in stolen bases and sixth in runs, to free agency. The Braves signed B.J. Upton to a five-year, $75.3 million contract to replace Bourn.
Upton could help Atlanta fans forget about the player he's replacing, but it will seem odd to see the Braves without Jones, who finished his career with 468 home runs, a .303 batting average and a .930 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.
"We'll miss his presence, and we'll miss his bat in the middle of our lineup, because he did some incredible stuff," Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez says. "We'll miss that constant of him just being here for all those years. Along those lines, though, the Braves lost other Hall of Famers like John Smoltz and Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux and moved on. We'll have other guys step up and become leaders."
As far as filling third base, the free agent market was thin at the position and has been basically picked over. Barring a trade, the Braves are leaning toward using a two-headed approach with Juan Francisco starting against right-handed pitchers and Martin Prado moving in from left field to face left-handers while Reed Johnson starts in left.
Francisco, 25, was acquired just before the start of last season from the Cincinnati Reds in a trade and hit .234 with nine home runs in 93 games. But some scouts think Francisco can be a late bloomer like another former Reds third baseman, current Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion.
Meanwhile, the Braves struck quickly in free agency to sign Upton, who is 28 despite playing eight seasons for the Tampa Bay Rays. Upton hasn't hit better than .246 in the last four seasons but did belt a career-high 28 home runs last season while stealing 31 bases.
"We certainly feel that way, which was a large part of the reason why we aggressively pursued him," Wren says. "We really feel B.J.'s best seasons are yet to come. More importantly, B.J. feels the same way. He really believes there is room for him to improve and that he isn't done growing as a player."
Upton joins an offense that was seventh in the NL and 17th in the majors in runs last season. The pitching staff, though, should be strong again after being fourth in the NL and fifth in the majors in fewest runs allowed.
Veteran Tim Hudson heads a rotation that saw Kris Medlen and left-hander Mike Minor take major steps forward last season and that will have lefty Paul Maholm for a full season after he was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in a July trade. Dominant Craig Kimbrel (42 saves) leads a bullpen that was second in the majors with a 2.76 ERA.
"I'll put our bullpen up against any bullpen in the game, and we have outstanding starting pitching depth at the major league level and all the way down through the farm system," Wren says. "Strong pitching has always been a Braves hallmark, and I feel like we're continuing that tradition.
Brian McCann will begin the season on the disabled list after having shoulder surgery in October. The Braves are hopeful he will be back in May and return as an offensive force after having the worst season of his eight-year career in 2012 when he hit .230 with 20 home runs in 121 games. Veteran Gerald Laird was signed to a two-year, $3.3 million deal as a free agent to replace David Ross as the backup catcher and will handle the bulk of the duties behind the plate while McCann recovers.
Second base
It is easy to wonder if Dan Uggla's subpar 2012 was the beginning of the decline phase of his career or just an aberration. The 32-year-old hit a career-low 19 home runs after averaging nearly 32 in his previous six seasons. He hit .220 but had a .348 on-base percentage, thanks to leading the National League with 94 walks.
There is a huge hole at the hot corner now that Chipper Jones has retired after playing 19 seasons and hitting 468 home runs. Juan Francisco will try to fill those shoes. The Braves might move Martin Prado in from left field when they face left-handed pitching. The Braves also signed Blake DeWitt as a minor league free agent, but he has not played regularly in the major leagues since 2010.
Andrelton Simmons has the makings of an All-Star shortstop as he can hit and also plays above average defense. The 23-year-old had a fine major league debut last season as he hit .289 in 49 games. Ramiro Pena, who spent parts of the last four seasons with the New York Yankees, was signed as a free agent and will compete for a bench spot with Tyler Pastornicky, who began 2012 season as the starting shortstop but hit .243 in 76 games as a rookie. Light-hitting Paul Janish will serve as insurance if Simmons falters, but he is expected to begin the season on the disabled list following shoulder surgery.
Prado is one the more versatile players in the game and could wind up at third base at some point in 2013, most likely when the Braves face left-handed starters. He had another fine season at the plate in 2012, hitting .301 with 10 homers and 17 stolen bases in 156 games. Reed Johnson is a solid backup with his ability to play all three positions and could start against lefties if Prado shifts to third in those situations. Johnson hit a combined .290 in 119 games with the Chicago Cubs and Braves last season. 152ee80cbc
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