In many states (including my own), NO prior knowledge about gifted kids and their learning needs is required to fill a gifted specialist position. We don�t hire football coaches who don�t know what a touchdown is. We don�t hire band directors who don�t know what an eighth note is. We don�t hire special education teachers who don�t have the required extra certification, knowledge, and expertise about struggling learners. We don�t hire biology teachers who don�t know the structure of a cell. And yet we�re somehow apparently okay with hiring gifted teachers who don�t know about twice exceptional, curriculum compacting, telescoping, asynchronous development, and perfectionism, let alone common characteristics of the gifted.
That was wonderful, Dazey! Thanks so much for bringing that to my attention. I jumped up and down and cheered while reading the above quote. You just made my day!!
LOL I'm glad I could help to make your day great! I've emailed it do DH and MIL and read it to my best bud on the phone.
I loved this letter:
Gifted ed. is NOT a middle class retention program in urban school systems, nor is it an excuse to segregate white students from the rest of the school community. Gifted learning differences are NOT something that can be taught to a child with flashcards or simply the result of having middle class parents. Gifted children should NOT be in general ed. to "learn about" or contribute to the class' diversity or, worse yet, to "teach" other students. Giftedness IS identifiable in students of all races, classes and genders and gifted education should serve whatever populations need it. The problem with it right now in large urban areas is that giftedness is not identified well, so it appears as if G and T is an elitist segregation. That should not be an argument for its elimination, rather, a reason to rethink identification methodology.
Thanks for this article D&C!
All of Tamara's articles are worth reading!
I loved this letter:
Gifted ed. is NOT a middle class retention program in urban school systems, nor is it an excuse to segregate white students from the rest of the school community. Gifted learning differences are NOT something that can be taught to a child with flashcards or simply the result of having middle class parents. Gifted children should NOT be in general ed. to "learn about" or contribute to the class' diversity or, worse yet, to "teach" other students. Giftedness IS identifiable in students of all races, classes and genders and gifted education should serve whatever populations need it. The problem with it right now in large urban areas is that giftedness is not identified well, so it appears as if G and T is an elitist segregation. That should not be an argument for its elimination, rather, a reason to rethink identification methodology.
When I complained about my son being used to teach other students, I was told that "use your best students" is taught widely in teacher education. I tried to counter that maybe this philosophy was wrong and gave examples of how it stopped the bright one from getting anywhere. I don't think she heard me.
Val
Austin - LOL I didn't think things through when I chose Dazed&Confused. Several of us went to abbreviate it D&C, but if you're a woman, that can bring up bad memories lol. Well, maybe for DH as well since he had to rush me to the ER for one as I was blacking out while he was driving. We've all settled on Dazey for short.
This was a terrific article. I love this quote.
"GT is NOT a surplus offering for kids who have surplus knowledge. Rather, it IS an academic intervention for kids who don�t learn like other kids do. ACADEMIC INTERVENTION. Let�s start calling it what it IS so that we can help those who misperceive begin to understand what GT is really all about."
I finally found that elusive term for which I have been looking. I will be using the term "academic intervention" on a regular basis.
Austin - LOL I didn't think things through when I chose Dazed&Confused. Several of us went to abbreviate it D&C, but if you're a woman, that can bring up bad memories lol. Well, maybe for DH as well since he had to rush me to the ER for one as I was blacking out while he was driving. We've all settled on Dazey for short.
UH!!! Sorry about the D&C reference. I know what it is in a female context!!
Austin - it's quite all right! It gave me a good laugh.