The reality is often that the bright child does all the work and is frustrated and resentful when others don't do their share. Another practice often used is peer tutoring. Parents of bright children report that their children are told that since they are so far ahead they can help slower students catch up. That they are being denied an education is ignored as well as the fact that they are being exploited as unpaid aides. Because so few regular classroom teachers have received training in gifted education it is often difficult for many of them to understand that gifted children do not need constant review.
Mastery is achieved in a much shorter period of time.
There are some gifted children who learn because they love learning. The greatest problem with school reform and gifted students is that of accountability. State school reform looks great on paper but they are nothing but paper programs. Educational theories, strategies, and methods are being applied without being tested to ensure that they meet the needs of all students and some of them are being used incorrectly. Return to the article index.