Asking if Gifted and Talented programs are elitist is on a par with asking if high school and college sports are elitist. Is the high school star quarterback or track star an elitist? They might be if we took the same approach to sports ability as we do to mental ability. Instead, we ascribe sports ability to natural talent and hard work. Those who excel, such as the star quarterback, star basketball center or track star, have opportunities that many others do not. By the same token, those who, through either natural talent or hard work that are considered gifted also have opportunities that many do not.

Why do have gifted and talented programs? We have such programs in order to develop those skills that these individual children have so that they may contribute to society at a greater level than if they had not had such an opportunity. Their skills may be in math, music, languages, art or any academic endeavor. There are also those who excel in other areas such as chess that requires special skills and special nurturing if they are to develop into truly outstanding players. How can anyone ask if such skills make them elite and not ask the same of those who excel in sports?

There is no denying that there are those parents who take great pride and joy in having their son or daughter in a gifted and talented program. Some are even snobbish in their pride and imply that others who are not there are somehow lesser persons. The same can be said of the parents of sports stars and the special treatment that parents ask for the sports star child are in reality no different than the special treatment afforded many adult sports stars and film stars.

Even with such results, however unintended, the gifted and talented programs have a place in our schools. These programs let people see and experience, instead of just being told, that they are individuals. There are more than enough rules to ensure that children become adults in our society in a manner that is consistent with the way that we as a society want while also making sure that they know, through personal experience that they are individuals with a special talent.

In some ways the gifted and talented programs do not go far enough. There are individuals who have special skills that are waiting to be developed but it is unlikely that we will ever see. What of the young teen who can take a piece of wood and turn it into a fine piece of furniture? Perhaps there is a welder who is also an artist who could make custom wrought iron works that are the envy of all. There may be the factory worker who makes beautiful stained glass works. Each of these, had their talents been recognized in their youth could have done great things that would have enriched society but for lack of such a program it was lost.

The Gifted and Talented programs in schools around America serve to enrich the lives of all Americans through the development of those who have special skills. If that is considered elitist then America is truly headed toward becoming the land of mediocrity.

Learn more about this author, Mark Butler.
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