Meeting the Needs of the Gifted and Talented

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow educator recently about meeting the needs of gifted and talented students. His argument was that our current educational system no longer meets their learning needs. He recalled being in the gifted and talented program growing up, and contrasted that to what we expect from our brightest students today. It was his belief that we no longer push these students to achieve as well as they can, because education has become very homogenized. Advanced placement classes exist, but often times enrollment is open to all. This results in a watered-down curriculum for the gifted. As a result, they are not pushed to learn and become lazy with their education.

This brings up some important questions about how we Americans approach education. Open enrollment for advanced classes helps to bring down perceived socioeconomic learning barriers. Since most any student can feel that he can join a rigorous curriculum, there appears to be a more level playing field for the gifted and the regular student. This homogenization masks educational ranks, making all students appear smart... but I ask do we all appear smart, or are we only dragging down the brightest to our level?

How can we better meet the needs of students that are already ready for something more? Sticking them in an AP class and then reducing the curriculum does not appear to be satisfying their needs. Would it be better to create a track system, similar to the ones often used in European countries? Students who really can achieve above the rest can be placed into a more advanced track where they can be challenged while the rest of us can sign up for standard classes. It appears that such a system would allow the regular achievers to continue to learn while allowing the opportunity for the gifted to excel.

But many Americans would say 'that's not fair!' Why should some students receive more educational privilege? Why should my kid be in a regular class while my neighbor's kid gets to be in a special class? These are all fair questions to ask, after all, but think of it this way. Instead of asking if it is far for a student with obvious academic aptitude to receive more education, ask if it is fair that such a student continues to be hindered by a lack of educational rigor. It is not that the mainstream students are receiving any less of an education. They will still learn just as they did before, while the gifted receive an engaging instruction.

Would such tracking lead to a greater educational disparity? It very well may, but it will not be because us regular folk are not getting a fair education. It would only be because the gifted and talented could finally reach their potential.

What do you think?