In what could appear to some as a scathing report on the mis-treatment of the nation’s brightest students, Bob and Jan Davidson passionately describe what they see as the problem, and potential solutions to removing barriers to learning in their book titled “Genius Denied-How To Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds.”
Much of the talk about education over the past few years has centered around the No Child Left Behind mandates, and the failures of the public school system. In their book, the Davidson’s describe the quiet crisis in education where above average learners spend their days relearning material they have already mastered. For these students the lack of challenge can lead to frustration, boredom and often underachievement and failure. Up to 20% of students that are considered gifted in America drop out of high school due to lack or receiving an appropriate education.
According to the Davidson’s, “Many school districts have no gifted programs or offer only token enrichment classes. Education of the gifted is in this sorry state because of indifference, lack of funding and the pernicious notion that education should have a leveling effect, (or) a one-size-fits-all concept that deliberately ignores the needs of the gifted. But all children are entitled to an appropriate education, those left behind and those who want to surge ahead.”
The book does dwell for a long time on many examples of how schools have failed highly intelligent children, but could be a real revelation for someone who never realized this quiet crisis exists. At times, however, I found the description of the sorry state of gifted education to drag on. I found myself saying-ok I get it-now what do we do about it? Fortunately, the Davidson’s do not disappoint with a detailed description of different avenues for advocacy and accelerated learning options in this 187 page eye-opener.
The book and more information about the needs of gifted children and education are available via the Genius Denied website.