Browsing by Subject "Gifted children - Education"

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    Gifted education and ideology: the growth of the gifted education movement in South Africa
    (1986) Dewar, Merilyn; Breen, Chris
    Although the provision of education for gifted pupils has been widely criticised as elitist by liberals and radicals alike, this charge has never been specifically substantiated. In this dissertation, the relationship of socially defined giftedness to social power is explored from two major directions. The first is through an analysis of the ideology in theory conventionally informing gifted education, including selected information-processing models of intellect and creativity, theories of emotional and intellectual development, and justifications for gifted education in terms of social benefits. The second direction is through a historical analysis of the dramatic growth of the gifted education movement in the South African social and political context. Explanations for this growth are suggested and are explored through examining four selected issues in the South African context (i) the rhetoric of the gifted education movement, (ii) the changing role of the private associations advocating gifted education, (iii) the process of official acceptance of gifted education, (iv) the role of the HSRC, including discussion of the proposed national policy for gifted education. In these analyses, it is demonstrated thta gifted education is contributing to the complex reproduction of social relations and therefore inhibiting significant social change. It is concluded that a case can be made for the provision of gifted education but that there is an urgent' need for gifted education theory which is adequately formulated in terms of South African social reality, and for specific interventive strategies to offset the elitist function of gifted education and to redistribute its benefits.
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    An investigation of the Four Area Curriculum Extension and Enrichment Model for Gifted Education as viewed through the Cartesian, Socialist and Deep Ecology epistemologies
    (1991) Mentz, Hendrik Jeremy; Gibbon, John
    Because giftedness is a complex, little understood concept which has become politicised, it was deemed necessary to evaluate the Four Area Curriculum Extension and Enrichment model in terms of three epistemological focuses: Cartesian, Socialist and Deep Ecology. Reasons for the selection of these three epistemologies are discussed after which the traditional Cartesian, homunculus view of giftedness is shown to be flawed and a case made for reconceptualizing giftedness to confirm its collective, socially constructed, immanent nature, grounded in the existential human condition. The rationale behind, and design of the Four Area model as reflected in the guide to schools is shown to reflect the Deep Ecology epistemology. The philosophical statement, goal and aims of the guide are shown as clashing with the Deep Ecology ideology. In order to avoid epistemological dissonance, a reformulated statement of intent for the Four Area model which merges the Cartesian, Socialist and Deep Ecology epistemologies into a unitary aim is suggested. The design, short-term success and appropriateness of each of the four Areas of provision are analyzed and evaluated in the light of critical theory as also questionnaires and annual reports completed by principals and co-ordinators. Modifications to aspects of the Four Area model are recommended which, it is argued, will give it greater contextual relevance and make it an appropriate medium for promoting giftedness for all South African pupils. Finally, it is argued that intelligence and genius should be viewed, not as personal capacities, nor as social constructs but metaphysically as a function of gathering complexity.