Who is special enough for special education

             Have you ever wanted to be smarter? Wished that you had all the gifts and abilities that are associated with being a “super human genius”? Coveted the inconceivable abilities of masterminds such as Galileo and Einstein? Throughout the history of man it has been these kinds of great minds that deviate from the current method of thinking, in turn creating new lines of reason and more holistic understandings of the world around us. We label them “gifted and talented” but they are truly our inventors, our leaders, our Mozarts and Michelangelos. In spite of this they are at risk for extinction. Presently, the sociocultural surrounding in which our children grow do not cater to the needs of these gifted. Their cognitive abilities deviate from norm just as the mentally retarded, yet they are rarely viewed as deviants who need special attention. More often, they are viewed as better off than the majority to begin with and, consequently, are expected to develop to their fullest potential without much help. But just as athletes must constantly condition their muscles, so must the gifted condition their minds. Although all states are required to comply with the federal mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (1991), providing special education and services to the lower end deviants of the intelligence curve, no federal law protects the other end of the curve. The lack of a mandate, which would provide an appropriate, and nourishing learning environment for the gifted has severe implications on their cognitive and psychosocial development.
             Not once in the Individuals with Disabilities Act is the word “gifted” ever mentioned. Not one paragraph is dedicated to their benefit. Luckily, 33 states have opted on their own to require their school boards to create some form of gifted and talented programs. The problem is that little over half of these state programs necessitate teacher endorseme...

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