A Century Later...
- M. Jones Luce
- May 13, 2015
- 2 min read
One hundred years ago...
A woman apparently ahead of the gifted education game, possibly the original gifted guru, Leta Setter Hollingworth's model of teaching gifted students is dead on accurate.
Scott Barry Kaufman's book, Ungifted, speaks of the holistic approach she used for education. I strongly identified with her methods and motivations when reading her quoted philosophy in his book.
On why gifted learner need placement in education with likeminded peers:
"...Hollingworth observed that adults ignored these children because they assumed they would achieve on their own, without any assistance. She also noted that children with high IQ scores often faced social isolation." and "the more intelligent a person is, regardless of age, the less often can he find a truly congenial companion". She attributes this to having "the intelligence if an adult and the emotions of a child". Kaufmann pg 85
About underachievement or behavior issues:
"[students who] displayed the most severe adjustment problems because they were not being challenged".
"In an ordinary elementary school situation, children of IQ 140 waste half their time. Those with an IQ above 170 waste practically all their time. With little to do, how can these children develop power of sustained effort, respect for the task, or habits of steady work?" Kaufmann pg 86.
It is interesting to me, that these are the very complaints I hear about the "pitfalls" of gifted learners. We do need to give them real opportunities to learn these traits.
Her solution? "Hollingworth set up full-time, self-contained classes where these high-IQ children experienced challenging, fast paced instruction, with classroom discussion, group projects, and self-directed learning." Kaufmann pg 86.
She also addressed those complaints I hear about the gifted learner.
"She also taught them other important skills, such as how to handle the foolishness of others with patience and love, balance candor with tact, and engage in masterful argumentation and public debate." also
page 86.
Hollingworth's philosophy on gifted education sums up my goals in the GT Independent Study Program. This is one woman I would roll back time to learn from. Her books are available for kindle, so expect to hear more on this later.
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