What's the definition of "gifted" children?

Cinderbell,
You may private message me as you feel necessary.

andyhanfmann,

Thank you for responding. My daughter has not been in G/T programs, but was tested and found ineligable, not sure though if the district was using the top 15% or top 3%-whichever way, she might not have made it all. My concern lies with the other students who now have been booted out of G/T classes as well as their parents, who are upset.

This district has not answered any questions as to why this change, in addition, to building a "4th" Charter School instead of funding the G/T programs. This district has not answered anyone's concerns and questions. What makes it worse, is the Diretcor for the G/T programming is the same for Special Education, and this person never has answers for why those students do not receive appropraite services either.

There was an article on these concerns of G/T in our local paper last week, I will wait and see if anything more comes in it this week. I will be writing a letter and hope it gets published in this paper....and hopefully others will follow with thier concerns and band together.

Thank you again for your time and maybe I will message you privately in the future if that's alright.

I don't feel neutrally about his discussion, either.
And I have felt cheated, not (to the same extent, anyway) by the gifted program of which I was part, but by the public education I received- of which it was part. (Even though my third grade RLC teacher called me stupid in front of the whole class, and my junior high RLC English teacher prevented me from getting the reading assistance I needed…)
I hated school; never went to college, and don't even want to- I think that's sad. I'm perfectly capable, and learn almost constantly, researching, on my own. My education was such a consistently negative experience, I couldn't bear to go back to school for anything. I had friends, most of my teachers liked me- it was just so completely unenjoyable and frustrating; especially at the beginning of the year when so many others actually needed the unimaginably long "review" of past material. What a waste of time for those that don’t require it! As though enough of our youth isn’t spent sitting in a desk, being sedentary (and we wonder why kids get out of the habit of “playing”!) I feel exactly the same way about excessive homework. I was one that did the absolute minimum amount of homework (needed only for the grade) and aced tests. It’s unfair that kids be made to do work they don’t need. I understand that many people feel that it’s “unfair” that some not be required to do work that others are, but it shouldn’t be about the work, it should be about what concepts are not only learned, but “grasped”. (Which means you should need a lot less review than the students that only “memorized” the material.) Besides, people need to be certain not to get “gifted’ and “honors” classes mixed up. They are completely different. Someone of completely average intelligence can excel in “honors” courses, with the right work ethic- I’ve seen it happen. Gifted is not only about the amount one just seems to “know” for no apparent reason, but about the potential capacity for understanding, retention, and innovative thinking. Gifted people (it doesn’t go away when you toss the cap) learn differently, all their lives. The entire teaching concept has to be approached in a different way.
If anything makes a gifted person feel superior, or get frustrated, it’s this. It’s being forced to slow down because others can’t keep up. When I was in school, and I’m sure this upset some of my teachers, I would even answer questions that students asked when the teacher just wasn’t explaining it in a way the student could understand.
I don’t feel like I’m superior in general, but I am of above average intelligence. If I was below the average, and struggled with my education, everyone would feel sorry for me and all the others in the same predicament. Having a high IQ doesn’t mean you should just have to be understanding of the diminished quality of your education.
Here’s the thing of it: Is this thread about finding out what’s best for the parents of gifted children (not to diminish the plight, I am frequently realizing different things that I did that made my Mama’s job significantly more difficult, and apologizing for them), or are we trying to share our prospectives and experiences with the person who started this thread, as well as everyone on it, and everyone who may be looking to it as a resource for their own situations, in order to help them decide what is best for their gifted kid? I was under the impression, when I first wrote, that it was the latter.
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with passion- and I hope that everyone who reads this interprets it correctly- the charge is passion for the cause; not disrespect for anyone. I feel strongly that the same is true of Andyhanfmann’s comments as well.
I don’t think enough people on this thread have had differing opinions for it to be portrayed as this heated (we are, with a few exceptions, saying mostly the same things…).
Besides, a heated debate can be a very good thing!

imom97,
Thanks for the support. I have private messaged you. The issues you raised are too often sad realities.
I hope to hear from you.