Introduction
Cloud (2007) speaks of the problems that gifted children with above-average Intelligent Quotient (IQs) scores face in the current US education system. The author has reported that gifted children or child prodigies with IQs above 145 face social discrimination as these children are smarter than kids who are two or three years older than them The author has presented case histories of several kids who had above intelligence and needed to skip a couple of grades so that they could study at the intellectual level of their peers or kids who were at the same IQ level. But the existing education system is reluctant to allow children to skip grades and insists that these children study along with kids of their age. This results in the children being social rejects and being isolated from the rest of the kids. The author argues that such policies not only harm the interests of the genius level kids but also deprive the nation of children who would grow up to be scientists and excellent professionals. Schools are reluctant to allow children to skip grades as they feel that such measures are not in line with the current education policies.
Two extremities in the children
Cloud has argued that the current education policies are targeted at providing a uniform education for different age groups. There are two extremities in the children, kids who are slow learners with below-average IQ and children with above-average IQ. While the government has spent billions in providing the infrastructure for the below-average children, it has done very little to care for the genius-level kids. The author reports that the Bush administration with the ‘No Child left behind’ policy has in its haste to promote mediocrity has cut 16 million USD from the gifted children program. These gifted kids are then forced to slow down their pace by learning with other children and it causes frustration among the children who become social misfits and tend to drop out of school later in life. One of the children has also suggested that other kids with lower IQ feel threatened by these bright kids and as a result, they are discriminated against, socially isolated and there are feelings of jealousy directed at them.
Cloud has also pointed out that there are a few institutions such as the Davidson Academy of Nevada, in Reno that provides education for such gifted children. This academy has about 45 kids who are among the nation’s smartest kids. The academy has children who have won top awards in contests such as chess and other mind sport games and these children have shown excellent promise. But the author has pointed out that such institutions are very few and more are needed to ensure that the gifted children are allowed to learn as per their requirement and there is no point in stopping them from learning.
Conclusion
Citing the number of falling PhDs awarded because of lack of interest and merit among children, the author has argued that urgent changes be made in the current education system so that gifted children are not left out. Cloud has suggested that people should not be wary of children who are brighter than others and speaks of a need to harness this immense talent. The author recommends that school systems should strive to keep their most talented students through a combination of grade skipping and other approaches such as dual enrollment in community colleges, telescoping classwork without grade skipping to ensure the kids do not drop out or feel driven away to other states. The best way to treat the gifted children of the world is to let them grow up in their communities–by allowing them to skip ahead at their own pace.
References
Cloud John. 2007. Are We Failing Our Geniuses? Web.