Even among Study of Mathematically Precocious Youth participants, the Vanderbilt researchers have previously found that those who weren’t challenged in school were less likely to live up to the potential indicated by their test scores.
But if the study is right that exceptional youthful ability really does correlate directly with exceptional adult achievement, then these talented young kids aren’t just a challenge for schools and parents: they’re also demonstrably important to America’s future. And it means that if, in education, we focus on steering all extra money and attention toward kids who are struggling academically, or even just to the average student, we risk shortchanging the country in a different way.
Great analogy about how absurd the approach to gifted ed SHOULD seem to everyone. Unfortunately, as we know, so many schools ignore and these children. Thanks for all of your work.
Gail Post, Ph.D./ http://www.giftedchallenges.com