When I was going to school After 4th grade I was given a choice. Repeat 4th grade, or go to 'opportunity' classes, at a school two bus journeys away. I thought it was a weird set of options. perhaps it was just an offer I couldn't refuse.I apparently had the 'intelligence,' to be near the top of the class, but I didn't do much 'work' or finish many 'projects' - My report cards right through school until the finish of high school had 'can do better' at the bottom. My attitude was Why should I? The other school beat another year of school hands down. What made it better, was that I had a few of the kids in my class that I got on with had been given the same opportunity. At the new school we le...

When I was going to school After 4th grade I was given a choice. Repeat 4th grade, or go to 'opportunity' classes, at a school two bus journeys away. I thought it was a weird set of options. perhaps it was just an offer I couldn't refuse.I apparently had the 'intelligence,' to be near the top of the class, but I didn't do much 'work' or finish many 'projects' - My report cards right through school until the finish of high school had 'can do better' at the bottom. My attitude was Why should I? The other school beat another year of school hands down. What made it better, was that I had a few of the kids in my class that I got on with had been given the same opportunity. At the new school we learned about Baboon social heirarchy in MACOS-Man a course of Study, heard the Beatles White Album, (The first time I heard 'Piggies,' and Rocky Racoon') and Nixon's resignation speech.(My Fellow Americans....) What was also significant, was that on the same bus were children who had intellectual disabilities such as Down's Syndrome, who were going to another school. We got to see more than two sides of the story. The biggest difference, seemed to to be that in 'normal' school, the learning seemed to be more parrot fashion. Like the speed with which you could repeat the times table, or how many rivers and their towns could be remembered that went down the N.S.W.coast.
What was ironic, was that the teacher at the new school's name was Mr Smart, and his wife was the one who took Roll call at High school which was the one closest. The change in schools made a lot of difference to the way I saw the world.
The way things seem today, is every child seems to be treated as though it is disabled, and anyone that has a brain is 'special.' Thinking is becoming a rarity.

The definition 'Gifted' is a category. All categories are artificial. The way we may continue this exploration, is through honesty, self examination and Honesty. The definition 'gifted' is too polarized. I have no doubt that everyone is gifted. Sometimes the difficulty can be in identifying and applying the gifts talents, or abilities. If we have a diet that consists merely of apples and oranges, we will die of malnutrition. Talent should be competitive to a much smaller degree. If we are going to operate society on a functional level, we need to concentrate on gifts being complimentary. Sometimes the difference between people, can be like the difference between a mouth a hand or a foot. The...

The definition 'Gifted' is a category. All categories are artificial. The way we may continue this exploration, is through honesty, self examination and Honesty. The definition 'gifted' is too polarized. I have no doubt that everyone is gifted. Sometimes the difficulty can be in identifying and applying the gifts talents, or abilities. If we have a diet that consists merely of apples and oranges, we will die of malnutrition. Talent should be competitive to a much smaller degree. If we are going to operate society on a functional level, we need to concentrate on gifts being complimentary. Sometimes the difference between people, can be like the difference between a mouth a hand or a foot. They are all particularly suited to the job they have. This principle is one of the most fundamental bases of the value of free will, and one of the most damning prospects, when the philosophy of eugenics is considered. We need to find our own paths, without having to be plugged into a system. Co-operation, as opposed to compulsion, and coercion.