History of Gifted EducationCatharina F. de Wet, Ph.D.

University of Alabama

Why?

“History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”

Winston Churchill

“We should build an aristocracy of achievement based on a democracy of opportunity”

Possibly Thomas Jefferson

Timeline• Ancient China• Ancient Greece, Rome• Renaissance Europe• Galton through Terman• The “mother” of gifted education• Theories of Intelligence• 1978 +

Ancient ChinaThousands of Students taking the civil service examinations.

Intelligence equalshigh test scores

Ancient Greece

What was valued?

How was excellence rewarded?

How were “gifted” trained?

Plato• As far as choosing the

rulers of the future, Plato asserted that the preference of a higher education, namely, the studies of geometry, astronomy and other disciplines of the highest order be assigned to the surest and the bravest and those with natural gifts which would surely facilitate their education. He noted that the mind more often faints from the severity of study than from the severity of gymnastics. A good memory and a love of labor in any line would be essential requirements. (Plato, Book vii, p. 576)

Sir Francis Galton

Born 1822, died 1911

Important Works:Hereditary Genius, 1969, London: MacMillan Ltd.English men of science, their nature and nurture, 1974, London: MacMillan and Co.Natural Inheritance, 1889, London: MacMillan and Co.Fingerprints, 1892

Contributions:First to measure intelligence First to devise system using fingerprints for identificationFather of phrenology

Family Tree

Testing

Fingerprinting

Phrenology

Fingerprints:“In 1892 he published Fingerprints, the first book on the subject. In it he stated his belief that fingerprints were unique and unchanging, making them ideal for identification. He warned however, that they would not provide heredity or racial clues His basic method of classification is still in use.”http://kyky.essortment.com/fingerprinthist_rmmv.htm

Alfred Binet

Major Works:Binet, A., & Simon, T. (1896). La phychologie individuelle, Annee Psychologie, 1896, 2, 411-465

Major Contributions:Test for educability of children (goal was to identify less able school children in order to aid them with the needed care required)

First to utilize teacher expertise (Average ability at age)

Lewis Terman1877 – 1956

Major Works:The Measurement of Intelligence (1916) The Use of Intelligence Tests (1916) Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Scale (1916)The Stanford Achievement Test (1923) Genetic Studies of Genius (1925, 1947, 1959) Autobiography of Lewis Terman (1930)

Major Contributions:IQ tests to classify children and put them on the appropriate job-track. IQ = mental age/chronological age times 100 Long-term studies of gifted children that are still in progress today

Leta Hollingworth

Speyer School, NYC

Spearman: General Intelligence (g)

Thurstone: Specific Abilities

Vernon: Structure of Human Abilities (Major, minor, and Specific Factors)

Guilford: Structure of the Intellect(Operations, Products, Contents)

Gardner: Multiple Intelligences

Sternberg: Triarchic Intelligence

Five Turning Points in the 50’s

• 1950: Guilford’s APA address: importance of educating gifted

• 1952: Witty’s famous definition: any child whose performance in a worthwhile type of human endeavor is consistently or repeatedly remarkable

• 1956: Virgil Ward’s definition of Differentiated Education for the gifted

• 1957: Sputnik

• 1958: Torrance Test of Creative Thinking

1978 +

• 1978 - Joseph Renzulli : What Makes Giftedness?

• 1983 – Schoolwide Ernichment Model

Howard Gardner

• 1985: Frames of Mind• 1989: To Open Minds• 1991: The Unschooled Mind• 1993: Creating Minds• 1993: Multiple Intelligences• 1995: Leading Minds• 1997: Extraordinary Minds• 1999: Intelligence Reframed• 2000: The Disciplined Mind• Etc, etc

Robert Sternberg

• 1986: Triarchic Theory of Intelligence

• 1986: Editor – Conceptions of Giftedness

• 2006: Editor – 2nd edition Conceptions of Giftedness

Francois Gagne• Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent

Paul TorranceTorrance Test of Creative Thinking

Future Problem Solving

Incubation Model of Teaching

2000: Film Manifesto for Children (Georgia Public Television)

Don't be afraid to fall in love with somethingand pursue it with intensity.

Know, understand, take pride in, practice, develop, exploitand enjoy your greatest strengths.

Learn to free yourself from the expectations of others and to walk away from the games they impose on you.

 Free yourself to play your own game.

Find a great teacher or mentor who will help you. 

Learn the skills of interdependence.Don't waste energy trying to be well rounded.

 Do what you love and can do well.

Authors of Interest

James Borland Nancy Robinson Bonnie Cramond Tracy Cross

Joyce VanTassel Baska Susan Baum