Education of the Gifted and Talented Student.
The term "exceptional child" is a broad and inclusive label that.
refers to a significant percent of the child population. Quite generally,.
it includes any child who exhibits attributes, characteristics and/or.
abilities that fall significantly above or below the norm. These are.
students which, due to their levels of ability, demonstrate the need for.
special education and educational services that they would not ordinarily.
receive in the regular classroom. The federal government has officially.
recognized the necessity of our educational system to meet the needs of.
such students, and has passed legislation mandating policies to accommodate.
them. However, a great deal of inequality exists in our special education.
system. Most interest, attention and concern is geared toward educating.
the retarded and/or disabled, while neglecting to recognize the equally.
important needs of our gifted and talented students. I feel that our.
education system is doing unto these children a grave injustice.
First and foremost, who are our gifted and talented students, and for.
what reasons do we classify them in this way? There is great diversity.
among gifted and talented children, and as with any child, each exhibits.
unique qualities. Yet, there are fundamental characteristics that are.
commonly associated with giftedness and are generally observed in different.
levels in most of these children. An article in the Instructor categorizes.
these qualities as ".creative, perfectionistic and intellectual" and.
asserts that gifted and talented children exhibit advanced development in.
these general areas. Through my research I have found that there are.
general consistencies among these students, and many do fall under these.
basic categories.
Many gifted and talented students use and demonstrate an understanding.
of an advanced vocabulary and display an outstanding and precise memory.
