Ethical Dimensions of Education for the Gifted: How Do We Determine which Gifts to "Unwrap"?

A Biblical Ethics for Talented and Gifted Education

“…Meanwhile, several other conversations inform how any Christian will answer the question we have asked. Extensive literature exists, from outside the community of faith, on the ethical aspects of providing education for the talented and gifted (Ambrose, 2000;Ambrose & Cross, 2009;Fetterman & Stanley, 1988;Schindler, 1984;Silliman & Alexander, 1976). Husen (1974), for example, offers a critical review of the long, deeply divisive and intensely ethical debate about the origins of intelligence, especially the relative contributions of genetics and environment.…”

“…Parents, educators, and taxpayers understand such key terms as need, gifted, and special education differently. Several observers have noted how educators themselves have shifted in their usage, with such words as eminence and genius, popular in the early 20th century, giving way to giftedness, creativity, and talent (Albett, 1969;Friedman-Ninz, O'Brien, &;Frey, 2005;Schindler, 1984). The language in this discussion is sufficiently loaded emotionally that anyone arguing that schools should attend to the gifted may be misheard as ignoring the needs of those with learning disabilities.…”