Dr. F. Richard Olenchak answers the question: Is Gifted Education killing itself in Texas?

With the withdrawal of mandatory Gifted and Talented teacher certification in Texas a few years ago, many colleges and universities have reduced or eliminated the number of Gifted and Talented courses and programs due to lack of demand. Has this been the case at the University of Houston?

Dear Dick,

I appreciate your posing these questions. University of Houston sustains a marginal, reduced program in gifted and talented education (G/T) at the graduate level. Much of what we used to offer has been downsized because of the State of Texas' de-emphasis on accountability in G/T within the school districts.

Moreover, as you are aware, teachers in Texas are required only to complete 30 clock hours of G/T training, which incidentally is less than 3/4 of ONE graduate course; seemingly, the State feels this is adequate preparation to teach our future leadership in business, medicine, government, education, and so forth. When one examines neighboring states, one finds much more rigorous requirements. For example, Alabama requires a master's degree in G/T to teach high ability students, as do Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

I might add that Alabama has successfully attracted a spate of international businesses (to wit, the USA's only Mercedes Benz assembly and research facility). You simply cannot tell international parents that teachers who have sat in a 30 clock-hour course of study are equivalent to those with master's degrees when it comes to teaching the typically high-ability children who end up migrating from overseas to the USA. Do you think this has economic implications for Texas?

Then, one should consider how Texas places in contrast to other states in terms of testing that has more rigor than does our very minimalistic TAKS system. While accountability makes sense, I fail to understand a system that bases educational "excellence" on relatively low-level instruments that cost taxpayers huge sums when there exist many nationally standardized tests that offer much more rigorous assessment options.

Let's face it: Texas has dumbed everything down by making G/T education all but optional, by basing accountability on a minimalistic testing system, and by failing to require educators to be well-versed in developing students' highest abilities.

I predict that Texas will eventually experience the same sort of economic downturn that has beset California and for similar reasons; attaining excellence has apparently become passé and politically incorrect here.

Thank you for your efforts in helping to keep our busy leadership informed. The way in which these issues are addressed will surely serve either to pave our future smoothly or cause us to drive a rutted roadway in the years ahead.

Best regards,
 F. Richard Olenchak, Ph.D., P.C.
Professor, Psychologist, and Co-Director
Urban Talent Research Institute
Associate Chair for Special Programs
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
University of Houston
Houston, TX 77204-5023
voice - 713.743.4984
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