The Post-Crescent, Appleton WI, April 11, 2005

Kathy Walsh Nufer column:

Author: Schools need to stop wasting gifted students’ time

Last year, Appleton parent Jennifer Edmondson read “Genius Denied” by Jan and Bob Davidson and was so impressed she looked up the Davidson Institute for Talent Development.

Edmondson wanted to learn more about the “complex problems gifted kids face” and how to make a difference for this population that includes her third-grade daughter Catie.

When Edmondson learned that Jan Davidson does public speaking on the topic, she sent an e-mail asking about the speaker fee, certain fund raising would be needed to bring this noted expert to town.

“Well, it never hurts to ask,” said Edmondson, who shocked school officials with her news. “The reply was that she would be happy to come to Appleton, and for free. I think she was meant to come here.”

Maybe so, and Davidson certainly hopes she can help.

The former teacher turned education software guru and now philanthropist on a mission is that committed to her cause of making classrooms more welcoming for highly intelligent children.

“American schools waste bright kids’ time and talent,” she said in a phone interview in anticipation of her presentation Wednesday at Appleton North High School to about 500 parents and educators from across the state. “They need to change that.”

When Davidson and her husband considered how best to spend the proceeds from selling their software business, they made a surprising discovery, she said.

It wasn’t the stereotypical nonlearners they heard about in the media — the economically deprived, the children with learning disabilities or other special education children — who needed their help to succeed. It was the gifted.

“We realized the children not learning, or able to experience the joy of learning in our current (school) structure and philosophy, were the very bright kids.”

That aha moment led to the Davidsons’ 1994 book “Genius Denied.”

“We realized most American schools didn’t think much about these other exceptional children that needed different and more challenging curriculum. Gifted kids are just the other side of the exceptionality coin.”

The Davidsons’ goal is to help schools become more flexible, accommodating and allow children to learn, recognizing students with different levels of ability have different needs and thus benefit from different learning approaches, including grade and subject acceleration.

“Gifted kids should be able to go to school and learn something new every day,” she said. “Just because they can master material quickly, they just shouldn’t sit in class and be bored. They should be challenged academically as all children should be.”

Wednesday she will talk about the many options for nurturing talent, including her ideal for the highly gifted: self-contained classes for multiple ages of gifted students with the right teacher to challenge them.

“Public schools can easily accommodate these kids,” said Davidson, who is not a fan of one-size-fits-all approaches. “It takes thinking outside that certain age, certain grade, certain curriculum box.”

She is optimistic changes will occur, saying she has visited many schools, that despite budget limitations, “are doing creative things. It takes time and understanding but I think it will change as our nation realizes we need this deep intellectual pool of talent. We need to nurture that pool.”

Davidson said she looks forward to seeing what Appleton is doing at its Odyssey and Magellan charter schools for the highly gifted, and Paula Sween, Appleton’s TAG (Talented and Gifted) coordinator is eager to hear what Davidson has to say. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us,” Sween said.

“Genius Denied” is a “very well researched and articulate book that speaks directly to the needs of gifted kids. She not only points out education problems and dilemmas, but started a foundation to help provide solutions as well.”

Sween also credits Edmondson not only for arranging Davidson’s visit, but for hosting a reception before Davidson’s speech.

“Jennifer has really gone above and beyond. It’s not only important for her child, but others as well.”

Kathy Walsh Nufer writes a weekly education column. She can be reached at 920-993-1000, ext. 290, or by e-mail at knufer@ postcrescent.com