Chuck Grassley: “I once again come before the Senate to discuss an often-overlooked population in our schools, talented and gifted…”

“I once again come before the Senate to discuss an often-overlooked population in our schools, talented and gifted students. It's time that we recognized the nearly three million students who are talented and gifted and provide them with the assistance they need. For the past three years, I've been working to change the way people think about talented and gifted students. In order to do this, several destructive myths must be dispelled. Currently, many schools operate under the false assumption that these students are just 'extra-smart' and can fend for themselves with a little help. One such example of this faulty thinking is giving a talented and gifted third grader a fifth grade math textbook. Students who display gifted qualities look at the world and think in a very different way from other pupils. Instead of thinking in a sequential or linear fashion like most students, they jump from one concept or idea to another. Specialized teaching and activities, designed for their thought process, will help these students excel. In addition, these students often have problems fitting in socially because they are 'different' and suffer emotionally from peer rejection and stigmatization. Tragically, as a result, some talented and gifted students experience depression, eating disorders and high levels of anxiety. Some are also vulnerable to violence and antisocial behavior.”