Do you have to be gifted to work with the gifted?

[Linda Sorg]

Is is ethical for a school district to require proof that a prospective employee, who would be working primarily with the gifted, has an IQ in a certain range?
Do gifted students respect a teacher more if they know that teacher has an IQ in a certain range?
Should a person be identified gifted in order to teach the identified gifted?

[Heather Baskin]

Well this could open a whole can of worms!!

I don't believe a person has to be gifted to teach the gifted (that is why I have my job!). There is no way I could know/understand everything some of these students do. This is where my job as a facilitator comes in - I can teach the students how to learn, strategies in problem solving, ways to stretch themselves, how/when to apply knowledge, how to advocate for themselves, and the importance of creativity. Those things can be applied to any situation at any level.

Students are not going to respect a teacher because their IQ is high, there are other factors that influence respect. I often like to put myself in their shoes - would I respect a person that is very smart but is rude or doesn't care anything about me?

It doesn't seem ethical to require a certain IQ. I think it would be much better to require a teacher cares about education, the future of the students, and the process of learning.

Of course, this is just my opinion and I have no proof that I am gifted.

[Susan Parks]

I agree that a person does not need to be "gifted" in order to teach Gifted education students. Helping students how to learn, problem solve, apply knowlege, and how to go outside the box is drawn from my own life experiences. My life experiences have made me a "smart" person (I hope). I don't know that it would show up on an IQ score.

[Nancy Bosch]

Being gifted could actually be a disadvantage!! A person would never survive as a gifted facilitator if they had all the 'quirkinesses' of gifted kids! I'm the mom of three gifted sons and have taught gifted kids for 25 years and this is what I bring to the table--an understanding of gifted kids and their parents, flexibility, an interest in a lot of different things, a great sense of humor, lifelong learner, avid reader, aware of all current events and trends that effect kids, aility to negoiate with kids, classroom teachers, and principals, organized (lots of meetings, paperwork), creative, out of the box thinker. I always say to my kids :If I were as smart as you.... I would (or wouldn't) do this (or that).

I do think 100% that teachers of the gifted need to be certified in gifted education.

[Binismom]

My personal opinion is that a teacher working with a gifted population should be flexible and creative, first and foremost! I think that those two traits go a long way with gifted kids. I also think it helps to be able to banter with the children in that interesting way...You all probably know what I mean! I most cerainly and emphaically do NOT think that one must have an IQ higher than that of the kids you are teaching, but rather the desire to see their intellects unfold naturally. My experience has been that they PULL you along for a ride, and do not expect to be "driven" down a single-lane road, with regards to their education. :) In short, I think that gifted kids respect most the teachers who listen to them and meet the needs that they express. Good Luck!