The seven stupid arguments for cutting gifted education

Michael F. Shaughnessy recently interviewed Frances R. Spielhagen about Gifted Ed in the new millennium. Dr. Spielhagen has engaged in both funded and non-funded education research and policy analysis. As an Eleanor Roosevelt Fellow in 1991-1992, she explored perspectives of achievement among gifted females, ages 9-26. She continues her work on acceleration policies in mathematics, working in collaboration with Dr. Joyce Van Tassel-Baska, of the Center for Gifted Education at the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Spielhagen has recently spoken out against cuts in gifted education, and has identified "seven stupid arguments" that are offered as explanations for cutting gifted education.

# 1: All children are gifted

#2: It is not fair to offer special services for gifted students.

#3: Gifted students learn on their own.

#4: Gifted programs are elitist.

#5: Gifted programs are racist.

#6: Gifted children are weird.

#7: Why bother? Gifted students pass the state tests.

You can read the entire interview at EducationNews.Org.

Posted by Jeff Henriques at January 12, 2006 2:00 PM
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