I prefer the term "exceptional," because this term describes their unique abilities, personalities, and challenges all in one concise package.
Yup. Students with "exceptionalities." Covers everything outside of the mainstream needs, really, which is precisely why (IMO) gifted ed ought to = "special ed." It
is "special" ed, and gifted students need those differentiations every bit as much as kids with other learning challenges do.
I think if more programs called it "special ed" along with the coursework for kids with learning difficulties, this would make it a lot less 'desirable' and a lot of this kind of thing would go away. Frankly, I'd be perfectly happy with the "special ed" label if it met my DD's needs, and all of the parents of HG+ kids that I know would be, too. It's only the MG or not-quite-MG parents who wouldn't be cool with that. And you know, maybe that indicates that it's not about NEEDS, so much as it might-- just maybe-- be about 'status' instead. Well, sorry, but I don't think that tax $$ ought to pay for parental ego trips.
