ERIC Number: ED372585
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1994-Jun
American Culture and the Gifted.
Resnick, Daniel P.; Goodman, Madeline
This paper, commissioned for the development of the national report, "National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent," examines the relationship between American culture and efforts to educate gifted and talented students. The paper presents a historical overview of the cultural forces that have affected public policy, reviews the conflict between equality and intellect, and examines public education's attempts to educate gifted students. A lack of respect for achievement, effort, and merit in American schools and culture is noted. The ideas of de Toqueville, Locke, Binet, and Terman are cited to help explain the cultural forces influencing the education of gifted children. Three challenges for American policy makers are identified: (1) the need to make American culture supportive of efforts to develop the talents of young people; (2) the need to reform schools so that the needs of students who have "a curiosity and taste for achievement" are challenged and a less restrictive view of talent is adopted; and (3) the need to make able students "visible pace-setters within their schools" and to make schools more challenging for a broader spectrum of students. (Contains 40 references.) (Author/DB)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers; Information Analyses
Education Level: N/A
Sponsor: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: In: Ross, Patricia O' Connell, Ed. National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent. An Anthology of Readings; see EC 303 213.