Why gifted education doesn’t make sense

Let's be straightforward. What an idiotic article!

The author is an education columnist, while he doesn't understand basic math. No matter what standard is applied for admission to a gifted program, there are always students who are cut off just below the standard. It is a continuous spectrum. It should never be a reason to denounce a program. Otherwise, nothing gets done.

Imagine a 9-year-old who figures out how to solve a quadratic equation by reading online by himself. Is it a waste of time to sit him with his peers of same age and practice double digit multiplication?