State's lack of support is a shame

I wonder if you noticed the sad connection between Peter Schworm's article about dwindling resources for already threadbare gifted programs in the Massachusetts public schools ("Classroom prospects dim for the best and the brightest," Globe South, May 24) and John Budris's story the same day about math prodigy Elizabeth Synge that ran on the front page of the Globe Northwest section.

What does one article have to do with the other? Well, Elizabeth's parents wanted her to attend public school. But there was nothing more than extra worksheets available for the gifted young mathematician's "enrichment" -- so with no other choices, they removed her from the system to home-school her. Once in the home-school environment, she was able to soar to her current unimaginably high level of mathematics achievement partially through the classes she took at the Voyagers Home School Cooperative in Acton.

Voyagers is an all-volunteer organization that serves approximately 300 children ages 5-18 on less than $100,000 a year. How is it that in this education-rich state, a child such as Elizabeth Synge will get a better education from volunteers with a tiny budget and no state support whatsoever, while other, perhaps equally gifted, students languish in our incredibly expensive public schools?

It is more than a shame that in this state academic talent is celebrated -- but not supported.

Gillian Overholser
Lexington