| This idea stems from
a philosophy that surfaced in the early part of the 20th century. The first comprehensive study of the gifted was carried
out over a period of 70 years beginning in 1921. Lewis Terman at Stanford University began a longitudinal study on over
1,500 students with an average age of 11 years and IQ's exceeding 140, the average being 150 (Clark, 1997).
The common view of gifted children in Terman's day was one of "Early ripe, early rot."
Gifted children were pictured as being frail, ill at ease socially, lost in lofty thoughts and tenuously holding on to their
sanity. Terman's goal in conducting his study was to effectively dispel these myths. His data allowed for a more
realistic opinion and a more accepting view of the gifted (Clark, 1997). Terman described his subjects as having superior
intelligence, health, social adjustment and moral attitude. However, while the study eliminated one set of myths, it
inadvertently set in motion a whole new set of misconceptions regarding gifted children. Terman's conclusions gave rise
to the myth that gifted children are happy and well adjusted by nature, requiring little in the way of special attention.
This idea of global giftedness effectively omits many gifted students--especially those with disabilities--from receiving
proper instruction.
History is filled with many eminent individuals who do not fit Terman's model of giftedness.
Where would we be today without the contributions of Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein or Leonardo Da Vinci? Each of
these individuals and many more who have made monumental contributions to society have or had disabilities in conjunction
with their remarkable intellectual abilities. |
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Mozart
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It took all of 30 minutes for Mozart to master his first musical composition.
This was accomplished 3 days before his 5th birthday. Not long after that, he began writing his own musical compositions.
It was at this point, that his father arranged for him to begin touring Europe.
Nikola Tesla, inventor of the AC motor also foresaw modern day inventions such
as radar and remote controlled missiles. He also created plans for a flying machine that could rise vertically from
a rooftop. His design was the forerunner of today's VSTOL (Vertical short take off and landing) plane.
French physicist and two time Nobel Laureate Marie Curie is best known for her
work with radioactivity in the early part of the 20th century. During WWI her work played an active role in the use
of radiation for medical purposes.
Inventor/Astronomer Benjamin Banneker created his own clock, made entirely of
wood that kept perfect time for 40 years. He also assisted Thomas Jefferson in the laying out of the Capital by producing
the plans from memory after the former designer quit and took the actual plans with him. He also created an Almanac
that won him international fame. |
