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World War I and II
World War I and II highlighted the need for strong leaders in the U.S. Political leaders began to understand the need for well-educated children to secure the future of the United States as well as protect the country's status of dominance. Gifted education was developed for advancement in strong leadership qualities and global awareness. -
IQ Test
Lewis Terman, helps design the first American IQ test. He felt that giftedness was essentially high IQ and that intelligence is inherited. Although he believed that gifted kids can come from any social background, he viewed Hispanics and African Americans as inherently untalented and argued that they should be placed in separate classrooms. -
The National Association for Gifted Children
Founded by Ane Fabe Isaacs in 1954, The National Association for Gifted Children still stands strong today, 70 years later. Their mission emphasizes support for all gifted children and those who work with them. "NAGC empowers all who support children with advanced abilities in accessing equitable opportunities that develop their gifts and talents. We do this through advocacy, outreach,
education, and research." -
Sputnik and the National Defense Education Act
The United States felt that the education system was not as successful as it should be. Russia's launch of Sputnik was not acceptable to the U.S. government who responded by implementing the National Defense Education Act. -
Three Ring Model
Joseph Renzulli developed a three ring model of gifted behavior that pushes beyond the identification of gifted individuals through standardized testing. He says gifted behavior results from the intersection of above average ability, high levels of creativity, and high levels of task commitment. -
SENG
SENG (Supporting Emotional Needs of the Gifted) was formed to bring awareness to the unique emotional needs of gifted children. It provides resources to support and raise gifted children. -
Where Are We Today?
While making great strides, we still do not have much consistency between states. Is there a best way for students to be identified? Is there a model that works the best across the board? What kind of training should teachers/support staff experience? While we have room for improvement, we are making great impacts and serving our gifted community.