Why are high academic acheivers seen as gifted, and not people who are gifted in other areas?

Question

Just because the school systems refuse to acknowledge that there are significantly different ways students are able to learn, doesn't mean that the academically gifted are anymore gifted than someone who is visual-spatial.

Neurologist found that we mainly use our left side of the brain or the right side. Left-brainers are sequential, and right- brainers are visual. There's nothing anyone can do to change that. They are both are crucial in society. Almost 70% of students are left-brainers, so what about the other 30% who get a100% in art, but 70% in academics because the school system was too lazy and ignorant to admit the facts and put to use these facts.

Now they say bull crap like "No child left behind" when the school is responsible for making sure all children are taught, and include all methods of teaching. I'm a visual learner and perfectionist. You can't learn to be visual, and neither can I learn in your way.

Why are academics so highly esteemed over all?

Answer 1

I am a recently retired elem teacher. I believe all people are gifted in some areas. Those that are gifted in the areas covered in school are labeled gifted, but that doesn't include like even an Olympic athlete and obviously they are gifted, but I once asked a nationally renowned doctorate and he said the truly gifted are the right brain gifteds because they are more creative and can always create a way to get out or solve the problem Those are some thoughts on it. BUT HE DID SAY THAT PERSEVERANCE IS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL.

Answer 2

Because you can test academics (this is done through IQ and other standardized tests). It has little to do with right brain or left brain except those who are right brained tend to be more creative in their thought process and have more creative ideas, which is a sign of giftedness.

But I agree that there are children who are gifted in other areas such as arts and sports. But how are you going to objectively test these? You cant, so the school cannot prove you are gifted.

I do agree with you, and I can tell you that nearly every teacher I have ever talked to, does as well. Dr. Gardner, a well known theorist and psychologist, even created an entire theory that is now taught to teachers when they are in college. Sadly many teachers, especially upper level teachers forget about these.

Here is a link if you want more info: http://www.thomasarmstrong.com/multiple_intelligences.htm

Answer 3

School is about academics. The word academy, from which we derive the word academics, means school. In school, academically gifted people are recognized because academically gifted people are gifted AT SCHOOL STUFF! School, and No Child Left Behind, are about learning academic things. There's no reason to recognize someone who's good at something non-academic when you're in an academic place learning academic things.

You may be visual, and you may learn in a different way, but you still need to learn the same important skills of reading, writing and mathematics to succeed, just like anyone else. Teachers DO try to teach students who learn differently in different ways. If you're having difficulty learning in a traditional classroom setting, talk to your guidance counselor. They could reccomend an alternative school or class for people who learn your way, or they could set up an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) which sets up your school schedule in a way that you can definitely learn the material.

Answer 4

written by someone who is jealous of gifted students ?