Abbott Elementary Review: Gifted Program (Season 1 Episode 6)
Abbott Elementary once again proves it has done its homework on Abbott Elementary Season 1 Episode 6, “Gifted Program.” The writing team on the new hit comedy has trimmed out the stories that don’t work and turned up the intensity of the ones that do.
Why yes, I am talking about the budding flirtationship between Janine and Gregory!
“Gifted Program” takes their connection to the next level. We see that Janine is starting to genuinely reciprocate Gregory’s affection. And, importantly, we see Gregory teach Janine on the episode. This balances the pair and allows us to accept Gregory as Janine’s equal.
She is absolutely a gifted teacher. But, just like for the students, teachers who express their gifts in non-traditional ways are just as worthy and important as those with traditional.
The tenderness we get from Gregory as he opens up about not being accepted into his school’s gifted program sets the perfect tone for the episode. It is not cheesy, not even a little. But, it is warm. Because of this tender warmth, the episode leaves the audience with those good-feeling tingles.
The vulnerability applies to Melissa too as she has a surprisingly soft conversation with her ex.
I don’t doubt for a second that the red-head educator is every bit as much of a hard-ass as she has shown herself to be. But, people can be a hard ass with a soft heart. The self-described divorced and “none ya business” aged teacher brings us into her internal world.
It is a special step and it marks a slight shift for the show as a whole. Janine isn’t the only character we are going to get to know intimately. What a pleasure!
SHERYL LEE RALPH
Abbott Elementary strikes a perfect balance of hard and soft, silly and serious, on “Gifted Program.”
The storytelling choices on the episode are A+. The lesson of the episode is also excellent.
Gifted programs indeed have the power to exclude and make students feel like learning isn’t meant for them. Abbott Elementary approaches the topic with a light but incisive touch. Labeling kids smart or gifted may provide them with opportunities, but there is danger in it too. Snakes might crawl out of what you thought were chicken eggs when you put kids in boxes.
Allowing students to have space for a wide variety of gifts is essential to good education. And, oh my, it is funny!
Ava staring down the genius student in her office is timed exquisitely. I can watch the scene on repeat and laugh every time. As has been true with all the episodes so far, the show makes fun of folks without ever being mean.
The show’s clear fondness for Ava proves that it isn’t going to let us have a poor opinion of anyone doing the important work of educating at Abbott Elementary.
Extra Credit
- The janitor ends the episode with the delicious line, “you see a genius cleaning, I see a cleaning genius.” More Mr. Johnson, please!
- Gregory’s longing look at Janine is as perfectly timed as Ava’s stare down. Comedy gold.
- I would pay big money to go with Barbara and Melissa to get foot facials.
- The digs at the “white savior” teaching approach of Mr. Hill are so good.
- Everyone is hilarious on the episode, but not sure anything can beat the child’s face after she drops the snake.
What did you think of this episode of Abbott Elementary? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Abbott Elementary airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.
2 comments
As a gifted individual, it felt like gifted children have to apologize for the capabilities to those who don’t have it. It sounds bad, I know, but it also not fair. Ideally, inclusiveness should not be skewed in either direction. There are more programs for those with educational challenges than for gifted children. In most cases, gifted children are overlooked or considered problem children. It is correct there are multiple types of intelligence, giftedness accounts for that. This episode highlights how badly giftedness is misunderstood. Its a shame more research wasn’t done because gifted children suffer significantly (bullying the smart kid, given busy work, ignored cause others need help, and unfair pressure to perform). It unfortunate to most gifted children learn to hide their abilities because they so badly want to fit in and be normal. I recommend the book Living with Intensity as a start to understand giftedness.
This episode actually shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what gifted programs are and the students they are meant to serve. Maybe the main issue is that “gifted” is the term used for such programs, but they were created to serve children with a true need for exceptional education approaches, just like children of other exceptionalities, like those on the autism spectrum for example. Many teachers and certainly the general public do not know that students qualifying for “gifted” services have other needs that are required to be addressed in such programs, such as social, emotional, and sensory differences. They are not “gifted” simply because of their intellectual abilities. They often experience the world more intensely and need help navigating their experiences as they grow and develop.
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