Will, Emma (SEN)
From:	Max Cooper [mcooper@idx.com.au]
Sent:	Tuesday, 20 March 2001 6:58 PM
To:	eet.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	Gifted & Talented Education

SUBMISSION FOR SENATE

Re :  The Education of gifted and talented children.

I write to the senate committee as a mother of three children with special needs
as	 being gifted children.  I am also a Secondary school teacher who new very
little about  the practicalities of catering to the needs of young gifted children
until I had them myself.

In 1996 I was most fortunate to hear about a research program at Macquarie University
Special Education Centre that was investigating preschoolers who may be gifted.
 This information was gathered through another mother who saw an advertisement
in her local school newsletter. My elder daughter, Roxanne, an August birthday,
was unable to attend a regular preschool as her age limited her position on
any waiting lists.  Preschools do not cater for children with special needs
if those needs are in the area of giftedness.   Information was gathered from
parents and our little group was formed for ½ a day per week initially and 2
x ½ days in second semester.  Through this program and the Early School programme
at the University catering for preschoolers with a range of special needs we
were able to offer our daughter an enriched preschool experience.

In 1996 we were also able to take advice and ‘shop around’ for a primary school
for her. We had her IQ tested just after her, 4th birthday and these results
led us to send her to Boronia Park Public School as an early entry.  Her needs
were met beautifully and her total infants experience was enriched and rewarding.
She has been in a straight K for Kindergarten, K/1 composite for self motivated
students and a 2/3/4 composite class for able students.  In 2000 we hit the
wall and encountered a resistant member of staff who did not understand nor
wish to understand the needs of these children. She viewed the past reports
as ‘generous’ and we had a very quietand non enriched year in the classroom
which was assisted in some way by ‘extra’ groups extracted for ability in Literacy,
Numeracy and Art.  She was a member of all three groups.  We have encouraged
her extra curricular activities and she has shown promise in Music and Sport.

In 1998 and 1999  our son attended preschool at Macquarie University and had
an enriching experience.  This was due to the fact that we had ongoing care
taken by the same team who had our daughter.  He is now in Year 1 and although
his first year at school was delightful and rewarding, we are considering now
having him tested so that we can use this number if we need to.

Our third child, Eliza currently attends the final group at this preschool.
 She is very young , however, she is coping very well and we will not make decisions
about 2002 until later in the year. As she is a November baby it is not thinkable
at the moment.

Our problems have been  

&#61623; lack of information and resources and the neglect of gifted and talented
under the umbrella of the preschool. Unless it is learning difficulties there
is no scope for assistance.

*     support for parents is needed  -  we did a parenting course through the
UNSW 	      and we belong to the Gifted and Talented Association who hold very
useful   
      and fun out of school hours activities. With further funding they may
be able  
      to reach more people. Most information is spread through other parents.

&#61623; lack of support in the school system. There is still a need for a more
organised approach to the teaching of these children.  We assign tested benchmarks
to students with learning difficulties and assess their needs in this way and
provide Support staff for them.  However, there is neglect at the other end
of the scale.  The mythology that these children will do well anyway and they
do not need help is very prevalent in the spectrum of society.

&#61623; Teachers in Specialist schools such as OC and Selective schools need
to be specialists in the areas of gifted education.. Once again the upper end
of the scale is ignored and not considered under the area of special needs.

&#61623; These children need to be made feel that their needs can be addressed
 in a regular classroom by tailoring the curriculum to these needs.  The new
Maths courses in Mathematics would seem to be going in this direction to match
the Literacy programs but more resources are needed to inservice staff and parents.

&#61623; Some positive initiative needs to be taken to address the view in 
society that academic excellence is not as laudible as a sporting trophy and
we need to produce more total individuals who are sensitive to others.

Thank You for your Consideration

Margot Cooper

45 Coolaroo Rd
Lane Cove 2066
9427 0273

mcooper@idx.com.au