Customer Reviews

Genius Denied: How to Stop Wasting Our Brightest Young Minds

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I read and review a lot of books on education. Jan and Bob Davidson's Genius Denied fills a crucial gap in the literature. While almost every other failing of our educational system has been written about at great length, this book addresses a problem that receives very little ink -- the way that it lets gifted children down.

That we do in fact treat the educational needs of very bright children with neglect can hardly be doubted after reading the many case histories that the Davidsons have assembled. Gifted kids -- who, the authors note come from all races and all levels of family income -- are regularly told just to keep quiet and go along with the slow-paced lesson plans that are usually geared to the least able students in class. The result is utter boredom and a waste of human potential. It's like insisting that a race car built to go 200 mph should have to putter along at 25 mph.

While many school districts purport to have "gifted programs," the Davidsons observe that they are usually just for show and actually accomplish very little. "Pull out" programs that provide gifted children with an hour or so of time out of the regular classroom so they can read, draw, or do other activities are woefully inadequate for the needs of these children, but usually that is all they get.

The Davidsons are equally effective in identifying the root of the problem. We have an educational culture that is dominated by egalitarians who think it is a bad thing for some children to race on past the others. Never mind that the result is misery for the brilliant youngsters and a squandering of great human potential. The educational egalitarians are hostile to special treatment for the gifted and can be counted on to raise one excuse after another to justify their refusal to even try giving the gifted children what they need.

Genius Denied offers concerned parents and policy makers a lot of advice on how they can go about rectifying this tragic educational neglect.

This is a deeply felt book that deserves a wide reading.

I strongly recommend reading this book if you are the parent/educator of a gifted child. This book is a real eye opener into school life of American gifted children - even those that seem to be doing just fine. My son is highly gifted and absolutely loves school. He had a wonderful teacher in third grade and likes his 4th grade teacher even better. He scores 100 on most tests and generally seems happy. So - what's the problem? He's not learning anything! Until I read this book, it never even occurred to me to ask my son if he has learned anything new this year. He does homework daily, has tests and quizzes in all subjects - of course he's learning - right? When I asked him yesterday if he thought he was actually learning - he said no - nothing new. On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being new work that is challenging) he rated last year and this year a 4 (I think he would have rated it lower, but he could tell I was heading for a slight freak-out).

Genius Denied points out that many bright children are just coasting in our school system. They already know the work and "learning" the material comes effortlessly. Even if they aren't having emotional difficulty with being forced to repeatedly learn things they already know, it can become a serious problem later on when they actually come across material they don't know. Many won't even know how to study.

I think the book gives great information about the different types of "gifted" classes offered by schools, especially in the elementary grades. My son was in a math pullout last year and will probably be in it again this year. The author questions how a 1-hour a week enrichment class is supposed to provide the learning enrichment these children need. Heck - I never even questioned that as I thought it was so awesome our school even offered enrichment programs.

I am not criticizing the American school system - I am sure the teachers and administration want the best for all the kids in the US and the system is working hard to make sure every child learns the basics. However, this book clearly shows how the school system fails gifted children. Incredible quantities of money are spent on special education programs, IEPs, etc., to help children with learning problems reach their maximum potential. But few states have any sort of funding or mandated programs to help bright children reach theirs. This is a huge loss to our country at a time we really need all the knowledge and talent our youth can muster to keep up with our increasingly technological world.

The book also provides loads of suggestions on how to work with your child's school, participate in outside classes and alternative learning environments, etc. After you read it, make sure to pass it on to your child's teacher and then the principal. Something needs to be done soon!

Jan and Bob Davidson and writer Laura Vanderkam have presented a case for gifted education that is both logical and heartfelt. Genius Denied identifies the flaw in the current trend toward egalitarianism and addresses how to best meet the needs of children with superior intellectual abilities. The importance of mentors is stressed and vignettes present gifted children in all sorts of educational situations. Clearly, the children who thrive are those who are encouraged by one or more caring adults.
My family participates in the Davidson Young Scholar program and we will be eternally grateful for the experience. We are one of the families mentioned who have chosen to homeschool rather than subject our children to the lock-step lowest common denominator methods practiced by our local public schools. Homeschooling is wonderful, yet my career is on hold and we are forced to economize in order to survive as a one income family in a two income society.
Genius Denied should be required reading for educators. It's a powerful book and I plan to present a copy to a school principal I know. Perhaps you might also do this!

As a teacher of gifted students, I am very familiar with the unique challenges inherent to meeting the needs of bright students. Genius Denied and the companion website www.GeniusDenied.com helped me to better understand the options available to me as a teacher. Genius Denied is a great balance of story and practical solutions. It really made me think about what kind of teacher I want to be. I thought I was doing the right thing when it came to my gifted students and I now see that there is so much more I could be doing, and that it isn?t going to take a lot of time or money! I can't recommend this book enough. It is a must read for teacher, parents and students.

This book highlights the need for educating all children on their level. Using examples of some obvious prodigies and how the schools have failed them, it makes the point that we are doing these children as well as our country a disservice in not providing an appropriate education for everyone. Not only does this book show how we fail these children, it also gives practical ways for students, parents, and educators to correct this problem.

This is a very resourceful book for parents and educators that would like more information on how to meet the unique needs of gifted youth. Jan and Bob Davidson eloquently describe the ?quiet crisis? in our schools today and offer realistic suggestions to support and challenge gifted students. A must read!

This is not only a must-read for parents and educators, but for anyone interested in the state of our nation?s education system. Current policies and programs ensure that no child will be left behind, yet gifted and talented students are commonly underchallenged, underachieving, and, quite honestly, ignored. Genius Denied is a call to action and offers specific steps we can all take to truly meet the needs of every student. The Genius Denied website compliments the book with a state database, online searchable resource guide, discussion forums, and ?how you can help? information. Genius denied is informative, moving, and a fascinating look at what must be done to nurture intellectual development.

This is much-needed addition to the information available on gifted young people and how we can assist them in maximizing their potential. All too often, it's assumed that bright children will be fine on their own. However, without appropriate nurturing and opportunties, their talents and abilities will often fall by the wayside. This book, and the companion website www.GeniusDenied.com, provide information to empower parents, educators, and other citizens to make a positive difference on behalf of our nation's brightest young people. The stories of young people in this book are compelling, and the points made by experts who work with the population are sound. I HIGHLY recommend this book.

The Davidsons explain the gruesome truth of the unfortunate situation of our schools' gifted programs, or lack of. Not only does the book explain this national tragedy, advice is also given on how to help these children who are slipping through the cracks. I highly recommend that this book be required reading to every person working directly with or on behalf of gifted students and those determined to make a difference in the lives of gifted young people.

As a mother of a gifted child, I can relate to many of the cases sited in this book. I was told my daughter needed to repeat Kindergarten because she didn't like running on the playground. She was reading fourth grade books. Their answer to her intelligence? Just wait - the other kids usually catch up by fourth grade...yes, when my child is so discouaged that she has given up. Gifted children are quick to become underachievers when put in our school systems. This book has given us hope and determination to ensure she gets a good education, even if it means making a lot of noise at the school. I believe in the whole "squeaky wheel" theory.

As for the reviewer who said, "Also, although the Davidsons would like to ignore it, the most literate society in the world, Denmark, offers no special offerings to its gifted students." True, but Denmark has not dummied down their schools. WE HAVE.