The Plight of the Gifted Student: A Call to Action

With so many needs in today’s public education classroom, we cannot forget the needs of those who excel in the classroom, too. Gifted students face severe neglect in class due to the appearance of their competence and maturity. However, we quickly face losing the contributions of a major group of students as this neglect causes them to lose interest in their own education. As teachers, we must challenge ourselves to help gifted students reach their potential just as we attempt to do for all subgroups of students. A poll of 22 gifted students confirms these frustrations and needs of students. They often find themselves singled out due to the stigma of a gifted label by not only peers but also teachers and other school staff. This stigma results in intense pressure, social isolation, and extra work for gifted children. Creating a classroom climate and curriculum suitable for gifted students will help all students succeed in school