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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello and welcome. I'm Mike Nikitas from NECN. New England Cable News, guest hosting tonight on NH Outlook. |
| Preshow #1 Return to index of stories... |
In this edition, Medical malpractice insurance. Are ballooning premiums forcing some physicians to quit? |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
Plus, the nursing shortage crisis. We'll look at the efforts to train more nurses. |
| Preshow #3 Return to index of stories... |
And later, a global perspective on terrorism and the tensions with North Korea. |
| Intro Malpractice Return to index of stories... |
But first. Medical malpractice insurance rates have been on the rise for more than a decade. But this year has been especially bad. Some New Hampshire doctors have experienced a 100 percent increase in their malpractice premiums, this year alone. Phil Vaughn looks at what's causing the increase and the effect it has on the medical community, and on you. |
| Malpractice Insurance Return to index of stories... |
Ext of office dissolve to interior with poster "Will your doctor be there?" Narr 1 - As patients walk into this Laconia medical office, they see some troubling signs. Sound of doctor with patient Narr 2 - Dr. Das is an obstetrician-gynecologist. She's been a doctor in Laconia for 12 years. That's about to end. Das clip 17:46 "WHY ARE YOU LEAVING? Doc: the malpractice insurance premiums have dramatically increased, in the past two years has gone up over 130%. Last year it took me 9 months to deliver enough babies just to pay my premiums." Narr 3 - So the doctor is moving to North Carolina. She has family there and her malpractice insurance rates will be much lower. Das clip 34:00ish Phil- "Do you know what your premiums were years ago? doc- when I started 12 years ago we paid $12,000 and now we are up to $60,000 and that is just for me. When I go to NC the premium is going to be $16,000." Narr 4 -In Concord, the NH Medical Society organized this get together. Doctors and lawmakers discussed the issue of rising malpractice insurance rates. Palmer Jones clip 23:25 "Within the last year we have had 4 physicians leave and a significant number that are going to change their practice, are going to give up certain practices because they can not afford those. And these are in high risk, OBGYN to be specifically." Narr 5 - Dr. Cynthia Cooper is one of those doctors. She's an obstetrician-gynecologist from Dover. However, she no longer practices obstetrics. Cooper clip:15 "I did drop OB. Phil: why was that? Cooper: Basically the liability rates were so high is was not worth my time to come in for all the night call and everything else. Financially, it didn't make any sense." Pat clip 6:20 "Our current rates for 2003 for an OB in NH is $60,000 compared to $40,000 in Maine and $30,000 in Vermont." Narr 6 - Dr. Pat Dowling is president of Medical Mutual Insurance Company located in Portland. They're one of the two largest medical insurers in New Hampshire. Like nearly 60 percent of malpractice insurers nation wide, Medical Mutual is physician owned and not for profit. Pat clip 2:15 "We have been in NH since around 1994 and there have actually been four rate changes. We actually decreased by 13% in 1997 and then increased by 11% in 2001 by 25% in each of 2002 and 2003, so the net effect was 54 % increase." Pat clip 2:44 "Phil: And what causes increase in medical malpractice? Pat: Loses. If you refer to the very comprehensive report release by the NGAO, the US general accounting office in June of this year, it draws the conclusion after a study on a nationwide basis that loses are the primary drivers of medical malpractice." Narr 7 - And according to the GAO report, loss of investment income by insurance companies was the second greatest contributor to premium increases. Stand up - By federal law, all malpractice settlements have to be reported to a division of the US Dept of Health and Human Services. It's called the National Practioners Data Bank. Statistics for NH over the past ten years indicate that the numbers of malpractice settlements for licensed physicians were lower in 2002 than in four previous years. So was the total sum of settlement payments. The mean payment - which is the best average indicator - has increased, with the exception of 1997." Pat clip 19:50 - "That seems to be true. The number of claims is stable. But there is a higher dollar value on those claims." Dugan clip - 130 "If you look at NH over the past 10-12 years there hasn't been a significant change in total payout." Narr 8 - What is helping drive up rates, is the secrecy surrounding those settlements, says Kevin Dugan, a malpractice attorney from Manchester. Dugan clip - 2:22 "There was a time when confidentiality was not a big issue in malpractice settlements so when a case was resolved, the details of the case could be shared with state licensing boards and even the media and I think that was a deterrent for bad doctors to practice." Cooper clip 5:40 Phil: "What is the correlation between doctors who have to be disciplined, and malpractice? Cooper: Hardly anything." Narr 9 - Besides practicing medicine in Dover, Dr. Cooper is president of the State Board of Medicine. Part of their job is to discipline unsafe doctors. Cooper clip - 5:45 "There's very little correlation between the number of medical negligence suits we see and the disciplinary actions we actually do. There are some cases where there has been no malpractice ever filed and we discipline the doctor and in other cases where for example the malpractice suit has a very large settlement and we still don't find a problem with the doctor." Sound of Dr. Das in hospital Narr 10 - As was the case with Dr. Das. She settled a malpractice suit last year. The details of the case are confidential and no disciplinary action has been taken by the Board of Medicine. Dugan - 255 "It seems like over the last ten years, nearly all malpractice claims that are settled is done on the condition of confidentiality so the name of the doctor, amount of settlement and the hospital is kept from the public." Narr 11 - In Washington, Congress has been discussing a federal bill that would cap pain and suffering settlements at $250,000. Twelve states already have similar laws - some have experienced stabilized rate increases, others have not. Jeb Bradley clip -"Well, by having a reasonable cap on pain and suffering awards, it should stem the ever increasing cost of medical liability insurance which is a significant portion of a physicians over all bills, and obviously has to be passed back to patients, or to Medicare/Medicaid." Dugan clip - 522 "We don't have those caps here because it's not a problem. This is not a state where you have multi-million dollar settlements like in other states." Pat clip 13:32 "The ultimate victim is anyone who's a consumer of medical care - we all recognize there are medical injuries that are compensatable - but the system needs to be balanced with then needs of the community for medical care. When a community loses its last ob or neurosurgeon is a four-hour trip away, then the community is not well served." Narr 12 - While that may be true, the General Accounting Office report on malpractice insurance concluded that nationally, there is no evidence of an exodus by doctors from states with high premium rates. The issue of malpractice reform continues to be examined in Washington and Concord. For NH Outlook, I'm Phil Vaughn. |
| Intro Nursing Return to index of stories... |
Another area of concern in medicine today is the nursing shortage. It's especially critical here in New Hampshire. Boston University Journalism Center intern Maria Furfuro shows us what's being done to ease the problem. |
| Nursing Shortage Return to index of stories... |
VO Nat Sound Nurse with patient SOT: Polly Bednash Executive Director, Am. Assoc. of Colleges of Nursing SOT: Barbara Blakeney President, Am. Nurses Association VO Nat Sound Track 1 THERE IS A NURSING SHORTAGE ACROSS THE NATION, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE IS NOT EXEMPT. IN 2000, NEW HAMPSHIRE WAS ONE THOUSAND NURSES SHORT OF DEMAND. THATS ACCORDING TO A STUDY BY THE U-S HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PATIENTS? SOT:18 the nursing shortage is clearly a crisis. there is research out of the university of pennsylvania that shows that for every patient over 4 patients that a nurse has to care for, the mortality or death rate goes up 7 percent. Track 2 THE SAME RESEARCH ALSO SHOWS THE PATIENT DEATH RATE RISES WHEN NURSES HAVE LESS THAN A BACHELOR'S DEGREE. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ONLY 45 PERCENT OF NURSES HAVE A BACHELOR'S. HIGHER EDUCATION ALSO BECOMES A PROBLEM IN THE CLASSROOM…. A MASTERS DEGREE IS THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT FOR TEACHING. SOT:50 Across the country, unfortunately, hundreds and hundreds of potential nursing students are being turned away now because we don't have enough university positions and enough faculty to actually prepare those students. And so we are turning away students at the exact time that we need to be getting those students into the program, getting them educated, graduated, and out into practice. And every year that we don't address that issue is another year that we are going to be behind as we try to address the shortage Track 3 EARLIER THIS MONTH GOVERNOR CRAIG BENSON TRIED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM WHEN HE ANNOUNCED THE NURSING BRIDGE PROGRAM. UNDER THIS PROGRAM, SIXTEEN REGISTERED NURSES WILL EARN THEIR MASTERS DEGRESS SO THEY CAN TEACH OTHERS. Capitol Hill SOT: Rep. Charles Bass Republican, 1st District SOT: Rep. Jeb Bradley Republican, 2nd District Standup: Maria Furfuro SOT: Ashley Pereira Senior Nursing Student, Georgetown University PRIVATE DONATIONS WILL FUND THEIR EDUCATION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. HERE IN WASHINGTON, REPRESENTATIVES BASS AND BRADLEY APPLAUD THE GOVERNORS EFFORTS. THEY SAY CONGRESS IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THE SHORTAGE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL. SOT 1:47 congress has done 2 things. first of all, in our labor, health, and human services appropriation we passed well over 100 million dollars to address nursing programs, nursing degress, and so forth. secondly, we passed the nurse reinvestment act which the nurses like. it focuses attention on the need to develop, train and employ new nurses. and thirdly, we have a prescription drug benefit bill for medicare. part of that bill contains a package of so called provider reimbursement increases including hospitals, doctors and other facilities that require nurses. SOT 2:31 some of the things that we can do as members of congress would be greater loan forgiveness for people that enter the nursing profession. reducing the paperwork would make some of the work related issues much better for men and women who are in the nurse profession and make it a more attractive profession. STANDUP 2:51 HERE AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, THE TWO NURSING STUDENTS WE SPOKE WITH BOTH SAID THEY WOULD CONSIDER PURSING HIGHER EDUCATION SO THEY COULD TEACH. BUT THEY SAY, THE FIRST THING THAT MUST BE DONE IS TO ENCOURAGE NEW STUDENTS TO ENTER THE NURSING PROFESSION. SOT 3:03 I had no idea about nursing, I had no idea there was a nursing shortage when I was in high school. I didn't know about any of these great, you know, opportunities until I came here. I just feel it needs to be projected to the younger population. VO Nurses Website Outside Hospital Sign Nurses SOT: Polly Bednash VO Nurses TRACK 5 SOME HOSPITALS ARE OVERCOMING A NURSING SHORTAGE BY IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS SO THAT NURSES WANT TO WORK THERE. THEY ARE CALLED MAGNET HOSPITALS. THE IDEA IS TO CREATE POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENTS, WHERE NURSES ARE RESPECTED, HIGHER EDUCATION IS VALUED, AND NURSES PLAY A GREATER ROLE IN DECISION MAKING. MAINE, VERMONT, AND MASSACHUSETTS ALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE PARTICIPATING MAGNET HOSPITAL. NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS NONE. SOT having a magnet hospital can help you recruit people to nursing, it can recruit people to your institution and if you go into a magnet hospital you can probably be sure you're going to get some pretty good care. Track CURRENT DATA SHOW THAT UNLESS SOMETHING CHANGES, NEW HAMPSHIRE'S NURSING SHORTAGE WILL INCREASE TO 27 PERCENT BY THE YEAR 20-20. FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK, I'M MARIA FURFURO. |
| Intro APEC Wrap Return to index of stories... |
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit came to an end in Bangkok Tuesday. President George Bush and 20 other leaders isssued a final communique on issues ranging from security to trade. But for some, there was too much talk about security and too little on trade. Tom Mintier has more on the summit from Bangkok. |
| APEC Wrap Return to index of stories... |
The APEC leaders supposedly came to Bangkok to discuss economic issues.but even before the summit started it was clear that other issues were driving the agenda. "We have no intention of invading North Korea." US President Geoege W. Bush's first meeting with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra covered many issues but what reporters heard about was North Korea. "We will not have a treaty.if thats what you are asking.that's off the table.perhaps there are other ways we can look and say what I have been saying publicly on paper with our partners consent." For Thailand.the host of the APEC summit.it may be described as a "good" meeting. They moved toward a Free Trade Agreement or FTA with Australia and received a promise by the US President of a similar agreement soon. Mr. Bush spent time with the Thai military during the visit as a thank you for Thailand's support in Aftghanistan and for sending troops to Iraq. Before this summit security was a major concern.but as the motorcades moved from hotel to meeting little else did.police halted traffic in all directions to insure the leaders' safety. The APEC meeting was divided into three sessions and issued a final comminique that seeks control of weapons such as shoulder-launched missiles that could be used by terrorists to down commercial airliners.the United States had sought a BAN on such weapons. The group also urged members to kick-start the stalled WTO talks that broke down in Mexico. There was the traditional class picture in shirts provided by the hosts.shirts that are likely to never be worn again. stand up: The Bangkok APEC summit may be best remembered by not what was accomplished but by what DID NOT happen.there were NO terrorist attacks and NO disruptive demonstrations. Tom Mintier,CNN, Bangkok. |
| Intro APEC Return to index of stories... |
Joining us now to talk to talk more about the Asia Pacific Economic Summit, the war on terrorism and tensions with North Korea: Chris Reardon, an associate professor of political science. Chris is the advisor to Asian studies with the Department of Political Science at the University of New Hampshire. Thanks for being here. |
| Intro Dr. Germ Return to index of stories... |
Finally, a bit earlier we talked about some pressing issues in health care. We have another story, this one has a serious note with just a bit of humor. Are you one of those people who have two sponges, one for the counters, one for the dishes? Bravo. But a new household cleaning study shows most Americans are germier than is recommended. CNN's Jeanne Moos tests your cleanliness IQ. SUPERS- 00:23 Dr. Philip Tierno NYU Medical Center 00:50 New York City Jeanne Moos CNN, New York City |
| Dr. Germ Return to index of stories... |
HERE'S A QUIZ WHERE A DIRTY MIND HELPS. WHICH IS THE DIRTIEST ITEM IN A HOUSE? IS IT THE TOILET BOWL, THE KITCHEN SPONGE, THE GARBAGE CAN, THE TOOTHBRUSH, FORGET THE PORNO MAGAZINES. the dirtiest of all things, bar none, is the dishrag and the sponge. SCREAM ALL YOU WANT, BUT IT WON'T PROTECT YOU FROM THE GERMS LURKING IN YOUR KITCHEN. it's worse than the bathroom cause here's where you have all your roadkill, you have chickens steaks. ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY SPONSORED BY BRILLO, ALMOST HALF THE PEOPLE SURVEYED USE THE SAME SPONGE TO WIPE THE CUTTING BOARD, THE COUNTERS, EVEN THE DISHES. WE CALL DR. PHILIP TIERNO "DR. GERM" BECAUSE HE WROTE THE BOOK. the Secret Life of Germs DR. TIERNO LIKES TO DEMONSTRATE HOW GERMS ARE SPREAD BY USING A SUBSTANCE YOU CAN SEE UNDER A BLACK LIGHT TO MIMIC THE WAY A SPONGE DISPERSES MICROORGANISMS. AND WATCH OUT FOR THE DRAIN. it is loaded with bacteria HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR HOUSEHOLD SPONGE? ONCE A MONTH, EVERY 3 MONTHS, EVERY WEEK OR TWO, WHEN IT'S SO FILTHY YOU CAN'T DETERMINE ITS ORIGINAL COLOR. THE ANSWER IS EVERY WEEK OR TWO. DR. TIERNO KEEPS A BOWL OF DISINFECTANT IN HIS SINK. one ounce of clorox and a quart of water. i dip my sponge in AND JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO INTO THE BATHROOM.BEWARE OF THE FLUSH. the water aerosolizes 20 feet from the center of the flush. nat lid closes SO SHUT THE LID BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHERE THOSE GERMY DROPLETS WILL LAND. WHICH BRINGS US TO THE QUESTION.HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU SANITIZE YOUR TOOTHBRUSH? SANITIZE MY WHAT?! ONCE A DAY, ONCE A WEEK, ONCE A MONTH. DR. GERM SAYS RINSE IT WITH MOUTHWASH OR PEROXIDE EVERY DAY. c'mon. we're not getting sick. we're living like this. these people living in this apartment aren't getting sick? what's the problem? not true not true DR. GERM SAYS WHEN YOU GET A CASE OF THE RUNS, IT MIGHT BE YOUR SPONGE THAT HAS YOU RUNNING. nat vacuum HE RECOMMENDS EMPTYING YOUR VACUUM CLEANER BAG ONCE A MONTH SO THE MOTOR DOESN'T SPEW DEBRIS, THOUGH 28 PERCENT OF THOSE SURVEYED SAY THEY DON'T EMPTY IT TILL THE VACUUM MALFUNCTIONS. SOMEHOW i ALMOST LIKED IT BETTER WHEN THE SECRET LIFE OF GERMS WAS KEPT A SECRET. NOW I FEEL LIKE THE SPONGE IS SQUEEZING ME. JEANNE MOOS CNN NEW YORK |
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That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook? For more information, connect with us on-line at nhptv.org. Participate in our forum and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find links to resources used in this broadcast. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - A recent roadwork project in Portsmouth unearthed a bit of history. The remains may be those from an 18th century "black burial ground." We'll talk to the archaeologists and historians about the discovery. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time. Thanks for watching. |
| Founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Public Service of New Hampshire Stratford Foundation |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. A bit of history is unearthed in Portsmouth. We'll talk to the archaeologists and historians about the discovery. Join us tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| key: health / healthcare Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/22/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 13:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, a medical malpractice insurance. Are ballooning premiums forcing some physicians to quit? Plus, the nursing shortage crisis. We'll look at the efforts to train more nurses. And a global perspective on terrorism and the tensions with North Korea. Medical malpractice insurance rates have been on the rise for more than a decade. This year has been especially bad. Some New Hampshire doctors have experienced a 100 percent increase in their malpractice premiums, this year alone. Another area of concern in medicine today is the nursing shortag. It's especially critical here in New Hampshire. Finally, a bit earlier Outlook talked about some pressing issues in health care. Outlook have another story, this one has a serious note with just a bit of humor. Are you one of those people who have two sponges, one for the counters, one for the dishes? Bravo. But a new household cleaning study shows most Americans are germier than is recommended. PRODUCER/REPORTER:Phil Vaughn, Maria Furfuro NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:Dr. Krishna Das\Ob-Gyn, Palmer Jones\NH Medical Society, Dr. Cynthia Cooper\Ob-Gyn, Dr. Pat Dowling\Medical Mutual Insurance Co., Kevin Dugan\Attorney, Abramson, Brown & Dugan, Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Polly Bednash\Am Assoc of Colleges of Nursing, Barbara Blakeney\American Nurses Association, Rep. Charles Bass\R - District 2, \Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Ashley Pereira\Senior Nursing Student, Georgetown University, Dr. Philip Tierno \NYU Medical Center, Jeanne Moos \CNN, New York City |
| key: economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/22/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 11:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, a medical malpractice insurance. Are ballooning premiums forcing some physicians to quit? Plus, the nursing shortage crisis. We'll look at the efforts to train more nurses. And a global perspective on terrorism and the tensions with North Korea. Medical malpractice insurance rates have been on the rise for more than a decade. This year has been especially bad. Some New Hampshire doctors have experienced a 100 percent increase in their malpractice premiums, this year alone. Another area of concern in medicine today is the nursing shortag. It's especially critical here in New Hampshire. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit came to an end in Bangkok Tuesday. President George Bush and 20 other leaders isssued a final communique on issues ranging from security to trade. For some, there was too much talk about security and too little on trade. Outlook talked in the studio about the Asia Pacific Economic Summit, the war on terrorism and tensions with North Korea PRODUCER/REPORTER:Phil Vaughn, Maria Furfuro, Tom Mintier NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:Dr. Krishna Das\Ob-Gyn, Palmer Jones\NH Medical Society, Dr. Cynthia Cooper\Ob-Gyn, Dr. Pat Dowling\Medical Mutual Insurance Co., Kevin Dugan\Attorney, Abramson, Brown & Dugan, Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Polly Bednash\Am Assoc of Colleges of Nursing, Barbara Blakeney\American Nurses Association, Rep. Charles Bass\R - District 2, \Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Ashley Pereira\Senior Nursing Student, Georgetown University, Chris Reardon\Associate Professor, Political Science University of New Hampshire |
| key: national politics / government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 10/22/03 22:00 HOST: Mike Nikitas Length: 11:30 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, a medical malpractice insurance. Are ballooning premiums forcing some physicians to quit? Plus, the nursing shortage crisis. We'll look at the efforts to train more nurses. And a global perspective on terrorism and the tensions with North Korea. Medical malpractice insurance rates have been on the rise for more than a decade. This year has been especially bad. Some New Hampshire doctors have experienced a 100 percent increase in their malpractice premiums, this year alone. Another area of concern in medicine today is the nursing shortag. It's especially critical here in New Hampshire. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit came to an end in Bangkok Tuesday. President George Bush and 20 other leaders isssued a final communique on issues ranging from security to trade. For some, there was too much talk about security and too little on trade. Outlook talked in the studio about the Asia Pacific Economic Summit, the war on terrorism and tensions with North Korea PRODUCER/REPORTER:Phil Vaughn, Maria Furfuro, Tom Mintier NAME OF PARTICIPANTS:Dr. Krishna Das\Ob-Gyn, Palmer Jones\NH Medical Society, Dr. Cynthia Cooper\Ob-Gyn, Dr. Pat Dowling\Medical Mutual Insurance Co., Kevin Dugan\Attorney, Abramson, Brown & Dugan, Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Polly Bednash\Am Assoc of Colleges of Nursing, Barbara Blakeney\American Nurses Association, Rep. Charles Bass\R - District 2, \Rep. Jeb Bradley\R - District 1, Ashley Pereira\Senior Nursing Student, Georgetown University, Chris Reardon\Associate Professor, Political Science University of New Hampshire |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| Gifted Article Return to index of stories... |
Expert: Gifted students often misunderstood and bullied By TOM FAHEY Union Leader Staff A three-day regional seminar Thursday through Saturday will focus on the needs of gifted children, a group that advocates say has been left off the agenda of the federal “No Child Left Behind” education platform. State education officials from six states will be among more than 600 attendees expected at the New England conference on Gifted and Talented Education. Nationally recognized speakers will explore the psychological aspects of dealing with children whose IQs run at 150 and higher. The conference is aimed at parents, teachers, counselors and psychologists who work with the gifted. Dr. James T. Webb, who opens the conference at the Sheraton Nashua Hotel at 1 p.m. Thursday, said he is fighting some misconceptions about gifted students. “The most prevalent myth in our country is that gifted kids don’t need any special help, that they’ll make it on their own. Some will, but a lot will not,” said Webb, ranked among the top 25 experts on the field of gifted education. “We have put so much emphasis on basic minimal standards that we’ve forgotten about kids already beyond them.” He said that in federal education spending, two cents of every $100 is spent on gifted students. “We’re not talking about 2 percent. We’re talking two cents,” he said. Gifted children typically enter school in September already knowing between 60 and 70 percent of what they will cover in school during the coming year, he said. Estimates are that they spend between 25 percent to 50 percent of their time in class waiting for other kids to catch up. Because they think and often act differently from their peers, they are singled out for bullying, teasing or are just excluded, Webb said. That’s when trouble starts. A recent study found that nearly 80 percent of the 50 most recent school violence episodes — including Columbine — involved gifted students, who comprise only 3 to 7 percent of the student population, he said. “Even if the study is wrong half the time, that leaves us at 40 percent. That still takes my breath away,” Webb said. Professionals who should know better, he said, frequently misdiagnose gifted children who are having trouble in school, tagging them as hyperactive, obsessive-compulsive, bi-polar, clinically defiant, or suffering Asperger’s syndrome. “So then we stigmatize them by labeling them and putting them on drugs. That is not helpful to their self-concept or their academic promise,” he said. Michelle Munson, a former president of the New Hampshire Association for Gifted Education, said the state has let gifted programs slide as it works to raise performance at the low end of student scores. “There is a need to focus on the learning needs of these kids, who are very, very different. But New Hampshire has no formalized infrastructure to support gifted students,” said Munson, assistant superintendent of SAU 21 in South Hampton and Seabrook. The state Legislature authorized funding to boost gifted programs in the mid-1980s, but that fell away after a few years, she said. Robert Wells, a special education official at the Department of Education, said his main job in the gifted area is to network parents and teachers together as they try to formulate programs. He said he was not part of the Bureau of Gifted Education while it existed, but he’s heard about it. New Hampshire is not among states with laws requiring gifted programs, he said. A department rule says local districts “shall adopt and implement written policies and procedures relative to... meeting the instructional needs of each student with different talents.” But Wells, author of “Guiding the Gifted Child: A practical source for parents and teachers,” said there is no nationwide mandate to identify gifted children the way districts identify students with learning disabilities. Besides Webb, speakers at the conference will be Dr. Linda K. Silverman, director of the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development, on Friday, and Dr. Barbara A. Kerr, author of books on counseling gifted children and a professor at Arizona State University on Saturday. |
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