I'm midwestern and I've never heard it used that way either. <shrug>
<joking alert>
Rather than changing the official term, perhaps you all should stop using a precise term so inappropriately. (Said with a big, friendly smile, in the spirit of your very nice post, MON)
But seriously, I do get what you're saying, MON. I just think Shari is right that if we change this term, the next one will be equally disputed. Saying kids are smarter-than-the-average-bear--in whatever words you choose!--is frowned upon in our anti-intellectual society. No term is going to be okay. Any term used to ID GT kids will be seen as elitist. I guarantee it.
Aren't all kids talented, too? Can't some kids excel without being gifted? And really, that's imprecise, since some gifted kids aren't so much talented or excelling as they are kids with untapped potential...
It's why I just shrug and move on. It's a red herring issue. We can't win. Call GT kids whatever you want. Changing the name won't change a thing, so we might as well stick with what we've got and press on with trying to get something done for them.
IMHO...
