1. gifted education is a difference in kind, not degree. Gifted kids need different things from their teachers to succeed, not just "more." I don't see anyone asking to devote significantly more resources to gifted students, what they are asking for is to educate them in ways that give them the best chance of success.
2. It's a fallacy to think that giftedness means that students will just do fine in regular courses, and may be just a little bored. Many gifted children (and some of them have posted to this list) will fail completely in a regular class setting, because they are unable to engage with the material or their peers. A significant number of gifted kids end up dropping out or under-achieving because they aren't being served.
3. Gifted kids are often born to gifted parents, but that does not mean rich or successful parents. There are a huge number of gifted kids in minority communities who are living in poverty.
1. gifted education is a difference in kind, not degree. Gifted kids need different things from their teachers to succeed, not just "more." I don't see anyone asking to devote significantly more resources to gifted students, what they are asking for is to educate them in ways that give them the best chance of success.
2. It's a fallacy to think that giftedness means that students will just do fine in regular courses, and may be just a little bored. Many gifted children (and some of them have posted to this list) will fail completely in a regular class setting, because they are unable to engage with the material or their peers. A significant number of gifted kids end up dropping out or under-achieving because they aren't being served.
3. Gifted kids are often born to gifted parents, but that does not mean rich or successful parents. There are a huge number of gifted kids in minority communities who are living in poverty.
Want to learn more? Documentary filmmaker Marc Smolowitz is working on a feature-length film on giftedness. http://documentaries.org/cid-films/the-g-word/