Gifted Bulletin Board

Welcome to the Gifted Issues Discussion Forum.

We invite you to share your experiences and to post information about advocacy, research and other gifted education issues on this free public discussion forum.
CLICK HERE to Log In. Click here for the Board Rules.

Links


Learn about Davidson Academy Online - for profoundly gifted students living anywhere in the U.S. & Canada.

The Davidson Institute is a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted students through the following programs:

  • Fellows Scholarship
  • Young Scholars
  • Davidson Academy
  • THINK Summer Institute

  • Subscribe to the Davidson Institute's eNews-Update Newsletter >

    Free Gifted Resources & Guides >

    Who's Online Now
    0 members (), 64 guests, and 36 robots.
    Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
    Newest Members
    the social space, davidwilly, Jessica Lauren, Olive Dcoz, Anant
    11,557 Registered Users
    December
    S M T W T F S
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7
    8 9 10 11 12 13 14
    15 16 17 18 19 20 21
    22 23 24 25 26 27 28
    29 30 31
    Previous Thread
    Next Thread
    Print Thread
    Page 1 of 2 1 2
    Joined: Dec 1969
    Posts: 272
    M
    Mark D. Offline OP
    Member
    OP Offline
    Member
    M
    Joined: Dec 1969
    Posts: 272
    New book coming soon from Dr. Jim Delisle: Dumbing Down America: The War on Our Nation's Brightest Young Minds (And What We Can Do to Fight Back). Available August 1, you can pre-order it today. http://www.amazon.com/Dumbing-Down-America-Nations-Brightest/dp/1618211668

    Joined: Feb 2010
    Posts: 2,641
    Likes: 2
    B
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    B
    Joined: Feb 2010
    Posts: 2,641
    Likes: 2
    Originally Posted by Mark Dlugosz
    New book coming soon from Dr. Jim Delisle: Dumbing Down America: The War on Our Nation's Brightest Young Minds (And What We Can Do to Fight Back). Available August 1, you can pre-order it today. http://www.amazon.com/Dumbing-Down-America-Nations-Brightest/dp/1618211668
    I dislike titles that exaggerate. The education of the gifted in the U.S. ought to improve, but there is no "war" against them. "The Neglect of Our Nation's Brightest Young Minds" would be a better subtitle.

    Thanks for announcing the book.

    Joined: Apr 2010
    Posts: 2,498
    D
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    D
    Joined: Apr 2010
    Posts: 2,498
    Originally Posted by Bostonian
    I dislike titles that exaggerate. The education of the gifted in the U.S. ought to improve, but there is no "war" against them.

    Agree. And I am so tired of battle metaphors, especially in the field of education.

    Joined: May 2012
    Posts: 1,733
    I
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    I
    Joined: May 2012
    Posts: 1,733
    Oh I like this author! He gave a great talk that I linked on this board. (I agree on the "battle language" but don't let it deter you from the author - he's pretty great!)

    Joined: Nov 2008
    Posts: 309
    P
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    P
    Joined: Nov 2008
    Posts: 309
    Agree, too. If anything, I actually feel that the focus on education is stronger in the past few years. I think it's because of the sense of crisis that any economic downturn will bring. As to gifted education in public schools, it's also a matter of resources. When there is enough resource for everyone, it's easier to run special programs for all special people. But when resources are not enough to go around, the schools tend to keep the basics and cut the specials. As to the attitude toward giftedness, I may be wrong but my feeling is that the US society in general cares a lot about "talent" rather than "achievement", compared with many other societies. There is a lot to do to improve education for all children in our society, but as it is, the US does have a lot of educational resources for gifted kids--many options are probably unheard of in even some of the societies that really care about education.

    Joined: May 2014
    Posts: 39
    O
    Junior Member
    Offline
    Junior Member
    O
    Joined: May 2014
    Posts: 39
    The publisher probably came up with the title - wouldn't hold it against the author

    Joined: Feb 2014
    Posts: 337
    I
    Ivy Offline
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    I
    Joined: Feb 2014
    Posts: 337
    Yes, authors don't always have final say on their title, cover art, or book blurb. As a first time published non-fiction author, I had none (though they were kind enough to take suggestions from me). He probably had more input as an established author, but wise authors also know that publishers have a lot of knowledge about what sells books and makes them "jump off the shelves."

    We aren't the primary audience for this kind of book anyway. We are the choir here. We already get it. The title needs to call to people who may not get it, but will be intrigued and perhaps moved to advocacy or support for gifted education by the content.

    Joined: May 2013
    Posts: 2,157
    B
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    B
    Joined: May 2013
    Posts: 2,157
    i feel like buying the book and sneaking it into the teacher's lounge at the school and leaving it out on the table. Even if no one reads it just the title makes a statement (although I agree "war" is probably pushing it a bit...it's more like extreme apathy, ignorance, and negative stereotypes of gifted kids and their parents).

    Joined: Feb 2010
    Posts: 2,641
    Likes: 2
    B
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    B
    Joined: Feb 2010
    Posts: 2,641
    Likes: 2
    Originally Posted by Ivy
    We aren't the primary audience for this kind of book anyway. We are the choir here. We already get it. The title needs to call to people who may not get it, but will be intrigued and perhaps moved to advocacy or support for gifted education by the content.
    Perhaps, but I read the first Freakonomics book and refused to buy its successor, "Super Freakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance" on principle smile.

    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posts: 5,181
    Member
    Offline
    Member
    Joined: Feb 2011
    Posts: 5,181
    Got to go with you on this one, Bostonian; I object to over-the-top hyperbole on principle as well.

    If I feel that I *must* read one of these, I tend to borrow a copy rather than purchasing one. Even if I feel strongly enough that I must obtain one, I generally will purchase it used rather than adding to the print run. {sigh}



    Schr�dinger's cat walks into a bar. And doesn't.
    Page 1 of 2 1 2

    Moderated by  M-Moderator 

    Link Copied to Clipboard
    Recent Posts
    Can Gifted Education Help Higher-Ability Boys
    by Bostonian - 12/27/24 06:28 AM
    No gifted program in school
    by Anant - 12/19/24 05:58 PM
    Gifted Conference Index
    by ickexultant - 12/04/24 06:05 PM
    Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5