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The Gifted Child: Better Off? Or Branded?
By Kim Delmar Cory
Mary's son was in second grade when he brought home a pink paper from school. She noted with pleasure that it was an invitation for her son to participate in a program for gifted and talented students. Her son was excited because he had seen his friend with a pink flyer that day, too. When Mary spoke to the mother of her son's classmate's later that evening, she offered congratulations about her friend's son also receiving the coveted "pink sheet." Her friend was dumbfounded. Her son had indeed brought home a pink paper that day -- an announcement about a forthcoming school sponsored paper drive. Mary was mortified and felt a definite "coolness" from the other end of the phone for the remainder of their brief conversation.
Mary hadn't done anything wrong. Why did she feel so guilty? Did the woman think Mary had been gloating about her son's selection?
Tough questions. Tough answers. And much to consider.
Gifted and talented academic programs vary greatly nationwide. "More and more, as a national trend, schools are getting away from gifted and talented curricula," says Jenny Campbell, Director of the Office of Gifted and Talented in the Division of Honors College at Michigan State University.
In Michigan, as in many states, students are not selected for gifted and talented opportunities based on test scores. "It's more of a parent/teacher recommendation," says Campbell. "Schools try to be as inclusive as possible." She adds that most opportunities become available to students starting around fourth grade.
If your child is invited to participate in these elite intellectual opportunities, how should you react? Buy a bumper sticker that says, "My kid's smarter than yours?" Don't laugh -- it's out there.
Competitiveness between parents regarding their children's achievements probably began in prehistoric times: whose child could skin a Saber Tooth tiger fastest? Most parents of school-age children have witnessed (or participated