Children who are intellectually gifted are often emotionally mature for their ages. For a variety of reasons--including an unrewarding curriculum, preference for others of the same intellectual ability, or a feeling of social rejection--this maturity is sometimes masked at school. This can lead to what the author calls a "forced-choice" dilemma.…

Acceleration is one of the best researched interventions for gifted students. The author is an advocate of acceleration. However, advocating for the thoughtful, carefully judged employment of a procedure with well researched effectiveness does not imply approval of cases where the procedure is used without sufficient thought--especially where it…

Research has found that teachers' objections to accelerating gifted students are mainly based on a fear that acceleration will lead to social or emotional damage. Ironically, it is the academic and emotional maturity which characterizes intellectually gifted students, coupled with their high levels of academic achievement, which makes them such…

This article discusses the negative effects of criticizing a child's teacher in front of the child and the positive effects of modeling a healthy respect of the educational system. Study findings are discussed which indicate high-achieving children saw themselves as active partners with their teachers or coaches, not empty vessels. (Contains 6…

This article discusses teacher misconceptions of gifted students and gifted programs and the effects of a postgraduate teacher education program in Australia called the Certificate of Gifted Education. Results of the program indicate powerful changes in teachers' attitudes and support the need to provide every teacher with training in gifted…

This article discusses the plight of the gifted child who has a disability, society's ambivalence towards double-labeled students, and the need to ensure children be allowed and assisted to develop to their full potential. The story of a young boy who is both intellectually gifted and physically disabled is told. (Contains 1 reference.) (CR)

A study of 700 children (ages 5-12) investigated whether children's conceptions of and expectations of friendship are determined by chronological age or by mental age. Results found children of differing intellectual abilities pass through the five conception stages of friendship at different ages and at different rates. (Contains 4 references.)…

This article suggests that bland educational policy statements concerning education of gifted students need to be replaced by policies that directly address students' intellectual, social, and emotional needs. Research is reviewed that suggests such students thrive academically and socially in ability grouped settings and that acceleration…

This article discusses thoughts on the term "gifted" and the author's childhood in Scotland during World War II and concludes that there are three rationales for gifted education: (1) the "special education" rationale, (2) the "national resource" rationale, and (3) the obligation of each individual to use his/her gifts to help other people.…

This discussion of exceptionally and profoundly gifted students suggests that these students have special needs that are often not being met. It distinguishes five levels of giftedness and identifies developmental differences in extremely gifted children. It suggests that radical acceleration is often an appropriate placement that may reverse…

This article discusses the early works of DeHaan and Havighurst in gifted education and their emphasis that giftedness is multifaceted and could be in different domains, including: intellectual ability, creative thinking, scientific ability, social leadership, mechanical skills, or in talent in the fine arts. (Contains five references.) (CR)

This article discusses the influence of political ideologies on the development of gifted education in the United States and Australia. The controversy over educational equity, the claim that every child has gifts or talents, the confusion between gifts and strengths, and the resulting impact on curriculum development is explored. (Contains…