Commentary The Vancouver School Board (VSB) strives for excellence in educating students. At least that’s what its vision statement says. However, the VSB’s recent decision to cancel all of its math and science honours programs calls this commitment into question. Instead of getting advanced instruction in math and science, gifted students will have to make do in regular classes with considerably less-advanced material. Of course, students from wealthy homes will have little difficulty adjusting to this change. Their parents can afford to send them to private schools or pay for tutoring in math and science subjects. The problem is that most students don’t fit into this category. Gifted programs in public schools are of significant benefit to students who want to master advanced courses, but whose parents cannot afford to pay for them. By cutting its honours programs, the VSB is sending a clear message that advanced math and science …