Before now, Leta Hollingworth was the only one to spend considerable time studying such children. Gifted children may have many interests, but usually are not gifted in everything. Recent research has suggested that most gifted individuals are extraordinary in only a few areas, although they may be strong in most areas. The varied interests and curiosity of a gifted child may cause difficulty in conforming to group tasks. Often they view group work as less efficient and productive than working alone.
Teachers often see gifted children as a challenge to their authority, disrespectful, and disruptive.
This perception may have been strong in the 1970s, but as teachers acquire more training in gifted education, this tendency has diminished. Gifted children may use their high level verbal skills to avoid difficult tasks. James Gallagher has written well and often on this tendency among academically gifted children. See his book, Teaching the Gifted Child . Work with no challenge frustrates a gifted child just as work with too much challenge frustrates the average learner.