Will, Emma (SEN)
From:	Y.Luxford [Y.Luxford@unsw.EDU.AU]
Sent:	Monday, 19 March 2001 2:34 PM
To:	eet.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	Senate Committee of Inquiry into the Education of Gifted and  Talented Children Submission

Senate Committee of Inquiry into the Education of Gifted and
Talented Children:
Submission

Name: Yvonne Luxford
Phone: 0402086440
Postal Address: School of Science and Technology Studies, UNSW, Sydney, 2052

Questionnaire:

1.  Does your child have access to an appropriate education?
Y/N  [ N ]

2.  Do you feel that regular teachers at your school have the
training that is needed to teach gifted children?
Y/N  [ N ]

3.  Part of the government's strategy for the education of gifted and
talented students is that: `After 1995 all schools, where feasible,
should seek to employ at least one teacher who has training in the
education of gifted and talented students.' Are any of the teachers 
at your school trained in the education of gifted and talented 
students? Y/N  [ N ]

4.  How many teachers at your school appear to understand the
academic, social, and emotional needs of the gifted child?
A = No teachers   B = Some teachers  C = All teachers
[ A ]

5. How many teachers at your school are approachable with
respect to gifted issues?
A = No teachers   B = Some teachers  C = All teachers
[ B ]

6.  Does your school use a procedure to identify students of high
potential?
Y/N  [ N ]

7.  Is it common for gifted children in your school to receive a
curriculum that is different from the non-gifted students in the
classroom?
Y/N  [ N ]

8.  Is accelerated progression through grades an option for gifted
students at your school?
Y/N  [ N ]

9.  Which subject(s) are taught using ability grouping?
A = None   B = Maths   C = Reading   D = Other   E = More than
one subject
[ A ]

10.  Does your school provide mentorships for gifted students?
Y/N  [ N ]

11.  Do you believe that your gifted child's education has been
damaging to his/her social and emotional well-being?
Y/N  [ Y ]

12.  Please indicate which of the following you believe would assist
gifted children in your school:
a)  All teacher qualifications should include training in the 
education of gifted and talented students Y/N [Y ]

b)  Implementing a procedure to identify students of high potential
Y/N  [ Y ]

c)  Ability grouping in regular classes
Y/N  [ Y ]

d)  Allowing accelerated progression through the grades
Y/N  [ Y ]

e)  Compacting curriculum within regular classes
Y/N  [ Y ]

f)  Providing mentorships for gifted students
Y/N  [ Y ]

g)  Special classes for gifted children to allow compacting of
curriculum and enrichment opportunities
Y/N  [ Y ]

h)  Extra funding for gifted education - Definitely

Append any other comments below:

Despite psychological reports and other quantitative and qualitative 
evidence of giftedness of students being provided our school 
continues to provide no support to g&t students, nor to make any 
attempt to acknowledge the specific traits and requirements of 
giftedness. Parental enquiries and requests are met with hostility 
and defensiveness. It has been put to me by the acting principal that 
providing targetted education for gifted students is elitist.

Its is vital that schools are provided with targetted funding in this 
area, just as they are for remedial teaching. I believe that schools 
will not take action unless prodded and will not ensure that their 
staff are trained in this area unless dedicated funding is provided. 
Currently the majority of teaching staff remain in a state of ill 
informed ignorance regarding the identification, special needs and 
appropriate education of gifted children. If the government  truly 
wishes to change this situation it must provide the necessary 
training, funding and support.

-- 
Yvonne Luxford
School of Science and Technology Studies
University of New South Wales
UNSW Sydney  2052
Australia