A Brief History of Gifted
Education
Characteristics of the Gifted
North GA RESA/Cherokee County
Fall 2006
Concept of Intelligence
• Nature vs. Nurture: Galton (1859) and the
g factor
• Alfred Binet (1905)
• Lewis Terman (1916) “Terman kids” and
the Genetic Studies of Genius (IQ 140+)
• Robert Sperry (1968)
• Pribram (1971) The Language of the
Brain
• Howard Gardner (1985) Project Zero at
Harvard and the Theory of Multiple
Intelligence
Sputnik “effect” on gifted education
and the Marlin Report
The report highlighted:
• 2.5 million students in
schools are gifted
• 57.7% of schools
received NO services
• Gifted students were
NOT served in 21
states
“most neglected and
potentially productive
groups of students”
Definition of Gifted
“Children and youth with outstanding talent perform or how
the potential for performing at remarkable high levels of
accomplishment when compared with others of their
age, experience, or environment. These children and
youth exhibit high performance capability in intellectual,
creative, and/or artistic areas, posess an unusual
leadership capacity, or excel in specific academic fields.
They require services or activities not ordinarily provided
by the schools. Outstanding talents are present in
children and youth from all cultural groups, across all
economic strata, and in all areas of human endeavor. “
US Department of Education/OERI (p. 26)
Jacob K. Javits Grants
•
•
•
Training component for preservice/inservice teachers
Model projects and exemplary programs
in ID and education
National Research Centers for G/T
UCONN -- Renzulli
UGA -- Torrance
UVA -- Callahan
YALE -- Sternberg
Due to Marlin report and $$$ from
the US Department of Educaiton
• Julian Stanley began the Center of
Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins
• Renzulli develops the Enrichment Triad
Model
• By 1977, 75% of states had a def. of
gifted; 66% increase in students served;
31% of states increased funding; 42
sponsor teacher training and
endorsements;38 states enact legislation
What about Georgia?
• Georgia lead others by passing legislation early
to increase “educational advantaged for gifted
students in the public schools of Georgia” (p.1)
• UGA’s Torrance Center for Creative Thinking
• Dr. Julian Stanley (SMPY) was from GA
• Dr. Mary Frasier’s studies in the 1990’s on
finding better ways to identify gifted students in
underrepresented populations
• Multiple criteria model developed in ID of gifted
children (1997)
GA Department of Education/Gifted Task Force 2006
Current Gifted Education
• President Regan disbanded G/T office at the US
Dept of Ed
• Cox, Daniel and Boston publish survey results in
Educating Able Learners (90% are pull out
programs, called “part time solution to a full time
problem”
• Carol Ann Tomlinson and the Differentiated
Classroom
• Currently, 26 states mandate services; 23
support with $$$; 14 require certification