EXCELLENCE AND EQUALITY IN EDUCATION: CONFLICTING VALUES IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY

Three factors have traditionally prompted a large section of the population to oppose the idea of special support for the development of excellence: the view that intellectual giftedness depends on innate dispositions and can manifest itself under any educational and environmental conditions; the feeling of injustice connected with the perceived superiority of gifted people; the perception of special education for the gifted as a threat to ordinary people and/or to democracy. In contrast, more recent perception of the faults of an educational orientation inspired by the above prejudices and a decline in egalitarian ideology have combined to open new perspectives on better educational support for the gifted, although agreement on the means of support is often lacking. There is a strong connection between the underlying principles of a democratic society and the conditions which foster giftedness and creativity. However, the development of creativity and giftedness should not entail the separation of the gifted from others during the school years, because such separation would damage both social development in general and the specific moral development of the gifted, and would prevent acceptance of the gifted by others and by society.     

Voices in the Wilderness: Counselling Gifted Students in a Swedish Egalitarian Setting

An egalitarian setting; that is, a setting established on an ideological and cultural basis, in which individual differences traditionally is a sensitive and often problematic issue, the counseling of gifted individuals present a particular problem. Sweden provides the setting in which the current study was carried out. This qualitative case study focuses on how one highly gifted individual—a 27-year-old male—has experienced his school years and university training and how successful counselling for him was construed. The case is argued to be fairly typical, and it is also suggested that Received Mentorship might be the only way to counsel a gifted individual in a forbidding egalitarian setting. The article concludes by proposing a number of recommendations for counselors who work in similar settings.     

Letting Go of Perfect: Overcoming Perfectionism in Kids. Adelson,J. L., & Wilson,H. E. (2009)

Given the severe paucity of gifted programs in this nation, the educational and legal rights of gifted students are not being adequately served. This article briefly examines developments at the federal level that impact upon both the legal and educational rights of gifted students. It also reviews educational data supporting the need to establish special programs, and concludes by suggesting implications and recommendations for informed practice.     

Gifted Students From Low-Education Backgrounds

Gifted children from low-education backgrounds often experience barriers to educational and career success. This article reviews the growing body of literature regarding gifted students from low-education backgrounds and the related literature on the challenges and characteristics of first-generation college students. A mother and daughter interview provides a contextual example of the issues identified in the literature review. Implications for educators and practitioners are suggested, including ways in which elementary and middle schools can proactively address the issues facing low-education background students in gifted programs.     

Allowing Idiosyncratic Learners to Thrive

Abstract

School-within-a-school programs are an alternative school choice that can provide differentiated learning opportunities for academically gifted students, but they are often politically contentious. In a recent study, we interviewed 530 students and teachers in gifted and regular streams in three publicly funded secondary schools with different approaches to high-ability school-within-a-school programs: gifted, International Baccalaureate, and science-focused. Although teachers and students across conditions expressed strong satisfaction with the academic challenges provided by the special programs, they also expressed serious concerns about the relationship between these programs and the larger schools within which they are housed. Taking into consideration concerns about gifted education usurping resources from more urgent educational and societal goals, we discuss policy implications of our findings, considering ways to “allow idiosyncratic learners to thrive” (in the words of a teacher interviewed in this study), while minimizing misconceptions, prejudices, and perceptions of elitism.     

Serving the preschool gifted child: Programming and resources

Highlighting the unique educational needs of gifted and high ability preschoolers, this article guides the reader to consider the characteristics of young gifted children along with appropriate assessment practices in planning educational programming. A triarchic approach to programs and services for gifted preschoolers is outlined with major emphases on an integrated curriculum, ongoing evaluation, and parental involvement. Specific strategies including internet resources are described to guide practitioners in providing optimal learning environments for this distinctive student population.     

论杨振宁的超常儿童早期教育思想及其对"少年班"教育的启示

文章通过研究杨振宁教授的超常儿童早期教育思想，阐释了杨振宁教授不赞成“少年班”教育形式的教育观点及其超常儿童早期教育应当坚持正常发展、完善人格和通才教育原则的教育思想，希望能引起我国教育界对超常儿童早期教育更多更深入的讨论。     

Moral Frameworks for Leaders of Gifted Programs and Services

Given the complexities of being an educational leader and, specifically, an educational leader of a gifted program or school, should there be a moral guide or framework that can inform the daily practices of leaders within an ever-changing educational context of competing demands? Should leaders of gifted programs employ the same ethos as any leader or by virtue of leading a program of a special interest group, be guided by a different, moral approach? This article posits that leaders of gifted programs and schools should operationalize an integrated approach drawing upon a variety of historical and more current theories of moral reasoning and intuition coupled with theories that draw on distributive, transformational, and situational leadership in order to make their advocacy and leadership more effective.     

Towards educational inclusion in a contested society: from critical analysis to creative action

This paper is written by democratic educators who stand for the idea that is it worth developing, through classrooms and schools, a socially just (egalitarian), anti‐discriminatory society where interdependent relationships are valued. This paper significantly develops some of the ideas explored in the authors’ earlier contribution concerned with progress in Northern Ireland towards educational inclusion, and how this might more effectively advance in a post‐conflict transforming society. In particular, the paper poses the ‘so what’ question, and it responds by exploring the practical implications of six key ideas thought essential for transforming learning environments supportive of cultural diversity, equity and excellence for all. In addition, it includes examples of how school staff, along with collaborating partners, might utilize these key principles in order to facilitate school improvement.     

Teacher Education Is the Key to Changing the Identification and Teaching of the Gifted

In this response, I emphasize the importance of teacher education for making changes in identifying the gifted. As a European scholar and teacher educator, I reflect on Dr. Sternberg’s ideas. Educating for a growth mindset in learning is crucial for the development of creativity and risk taking. Teachers also need a clear goal for gifted education to give them purpose in educating purposeful gifted students. Purpose is needed for transformational leadership, passion, and skills in ethical thinking. Ethical sensitivity is necessary to be able to combine excellence and creativity with ethics. A hacker ethic with passion is introduced as a suitable approach for high-ability students with a strong inner drive to excel. Teachers are identified as key agents in making the change in identifying and teaching the gifted. Researchers in gifted education should take the leadership in this change and commit to cooperation with schools.     

Establishing Criteria for High Ability versus Selective Admission to Gifted Programs: Implications for Policy and Practice

Admission to gifted programs involves identification, which entails theories of intelligence. Unfortunately, limited resources and space availability often take precedence over theory and educational philosophy in the admission process. Three selective gifted programs are used as examples of how theories of intelligence, driven by individual program philosophies, can be used as bases of admission within the practical limitations of each. The Cisco A. Carter Gifted Early Education Program identifies inner-city preschoolers for both general intelligence and specific skills. The Julliard Pre-College Program selects participants based on a specific skill. Hunter College Elementary School screens for general intellectual giftedness. Issues such as age of identification, underrepresented populations, and gifted children with diverse abilities and needs also are addressed.     

Education and Counseling of the Gifted and Talented in Germany

One of the principle reasons responsible for the fact that nurturing the gifted and talented in Germany has (once again) advanced to a pedagogic concern in the 1990’s lies in the dichotomy of equality and excellence. Are these two pedagogic goals actually incompatible, as often maintained in open discussions? After a long period of oscillation between these two poles, in the age of information a new emphasis has increasingly been placed on excellence. “It becomes more and more important for bright students to be using their abilities to stimulate this new era with economic and political productivity. But this will not happen if the current ‘laissez faire’ approach to gifted students continues into the next decade”(Gallagher, 2000, p. 691). Following a short definition of giftedness and related conceptions, arguments for gifted education stemming from the areas of learning psychology and instructional psychology will be discussed. The central problems concerning identification and programming will then be addressed in greater detail. Hypotheses will be developed, on the basis of the ATI model that gifted students need creative, stimulating learning environments. Various approaches will be presented here and discussed in the context of TIMSS and PISA. The second part of the article will deal with guidance and counseling issues with respect to the special needs of gifted children and adolescents and their social contact persons (peers, parents, teachers). In conclusion, German program evaluation, studies in the fields of gifted education, counseling and nurturing giftedness and talent will be presented. The outcomes of these studies and their consequences for improvements for the quality of gifted and talented education and counseling in Germany will be discussed. Excellence is one of the most important educational-psychological challenges of the new century.     

Social Competencies and Difficulties of Gifted Children Compared to Nongifted Peers

This study, conducted in Israel, examined the social and emotional difficulties of gifted children, in comparison with nongifted children. The gifted children were further compared in two educational settings: segregated classes and pull-out programs. The 974 participants were from the fifth to twelfth grades. The dependent variables included loneliness, social competence, empathy, and self-concept. The results indicated that gifted children score higher on need fulfillment, empathy, academic self-concept, and lack of emotional anxiety and lower on self-disclosure and physical self-concept. Few differences were found between the two settings for gifted children. The conclusion is that gifted children differ from nongifted children only on some of the social–emotional variables examined, mainly for the better.     

Giftedness considered from the perspective of research on learning and instruction

This article argues that research and educational practices relating to gifted students can highly benefit by linking up more closely with the mainstream of research on learning and instruction. The CLIA-model for the design of powerful learning environments that consists of four interconnected components (Competence, Learning, Intervention, and Assessment) is thereby used as a framework. The kind of learning processes needed to acquire adaptive competence are well in tune with features of exceptional performance, namely active, constructive, self-regulated and goal-oriented learning. Therefore gifted students should be taught in powerful learning environments that induce in them learning processes that embody those characteristics. Interventions focused on gifted students such as acceleration, grouping and differentiated instruction can benefit from taking into account the components and characteristics of the CLIA-model.     

追寻优质的数学教育——一所综合了东西方教育理念的美国高中学校简介

美国的一些重点学校非常重视资优生的培养,并确实做到了因材施教.由于中美中小学教师从不同的视角进行教学,中美数学教育的研究方向和焦点及教师的教学方法有很多不同的地方.中国的教育应该思索和继承中华民族好的教学传统,同时学习和吸收发达国家培养优秀人才的经验,以保证和提升基础教育在世界的领先地位,同时,要在中学阶段因材施教,充分重视数学资优生的培养.不能以美国有多少诺贝尔奖获得者来抨击中国的中小学教育.     

Using Telecollaboration for Self-regulated Thinking Skills: Instruction with regular and gifted learners

Prior research and educational programs have rarely explored the link of telecollaboration and thinking skills instruction for both regular and gifted learners. This theoretical article focuses on how to link self-regulated thinking skills instruction for gifted and regular learners via e-mail telecollaborative projects. The thinking skills referred to in this article are based upon Sternberg's concept of analytical, creative, and practical thinking. Practical examples on how to implement telecollaboration are given.     

Training effects on Belgian preschool and primary school teachers’ attitudes towards the best practices for gifted children

Lack of knowledge of effective educational interventions for gifted children is a pressing problem in Belgian schools. Most preschool and primary school teachers enter the profession without any training in the best practices for gifted children. This results in many misconceptions about giftedness and gifted education and a diversity of well-intentioned but ineffective interventions in the classroom. In response to the request for help from many schools, the Belgian expertise center “Exentra” designed a professional training program for in-service teachers with the aim to increase teachers’ understanding of the characteristics and needs of gifted pupils, and help teachers develop the necessary confidence and skills to effectively teach the gifted in regular, mixed-ability classes. This study shows that the Exentra training is effective in changing teachers’ beliefs about gifted education and enhancing teachers’ knowledge, abilities, and self-esteem to effectively modify the curriculum for the more capable pupils in the classroom.     

The Possibilities and Limitations of Gifted Education in Korea: A Look at the ISEP Science- Gifted Education Center

Education for gifted children is currently one of the hottest educational issues in Korea. Much money and effort are being invested in this area of education. Recent announcements by the Korean Ministry of Education state that all children should be educated to the level of which they are capable, and the current program for gifted students should be and will be extended. However, there is little attention paid to the actual substance of gifted education in Korea. What is happening in the name of gifted education? What is the meaning of giftedness and gifted education? How and in what respects can the gifted program be differentiated from general programs? What are the problems and concerns in serving gifted students? What are the effects of gifted programs? These are the main questions of the present qualitative study. For the purposes of this ethnographic study, the ISEP science gifted education center in Korea was observed for a six-month period, and 10 professors and 50 students at the ISEP were interviewed in depth. The results of the study are as follows. First of all, the ISEP science gifted education center provides differentiated learning environments and teaching methods. Second, through these differentiated learning experiences, students improve their thinking skills and creative problem solving abilities, as well as developing positive self-esteem. In addition, the formation of human net works, the special meaning of the ‘gifted’ label, and the acquisition of personal knowledge were seen to be some of the major educative possibilities on offer at the ISEP gifted education center. However, some professors’ low levels of motivation, the absence of individualized educational plans, bureaucratic management, weak student commitment to set tasks, and a lack of opportunity for students’ social activities were clearly limitations of the ISEP gifted education center. The results of this study will contribute to, specifically, the search for new ideas to improve the operation of gifted education as well as helping to surmount the hidden problems lurking beneath the surface of the current gifted education practices in Korea, and, more generally, to enhance our understanding of the diverse gifted educational practices in operation worldwide.     

Parent's views on education for the gifted

A survey was sent to parents of children enrolled in two public and three private school programs for the gifted to ascertain their educational philosophical positions and conceptions of giftedness. In general, the results showed that the parents preferred an eclectic, child‐centered instructional approach. Their conception of gifted intelligence was broad and complex, integrating many aspects of creativity, motivation, and mental power (IQ).     

Teachers’ Conceptions of Gifted and Talented Young Children

Efforts by schools to cater more adequately for highly able students necessitate a shared understanding regarding the gifted and talented. This research aims to ascertain the qualitatively different ways in which teachers identify and describe gifted and talented children. It examines the variety of conceptions of giftedness held by teachers and analyses the patterns and inconsistencies among them. Initial findings of the study, conducted with 16 early childhood teachers (two male and 14 female), are reported. A qualitative phenomenographic research design was adopted because of its focus on revealing individual understandings (conceptions). These results show that teachers understand giftedness as a series of conceptions, namely excellence, potential, rarity, behaviour, innate ability, motivation and asynchrony. These are discussed with reference to existing theories and pertinent research. Results represent the initial findings of an ongoing major research project.