Gifted Students and Advanced Mathematics

The extension to a wide population of secondary education in many advanced countries seems to have led to a weakening of the mathematics curriculum. In response, many students have been classified as "gifted" so that they can access a stronger program. Apart from the difficulties that might arise in actually determining which students are gifted (Is it always clear what the term means?), there are dangers inherent in programs that might be devised even for those that are truly talented. Sometimes students are moved ahead to more advanced mathematics. Elementary students might be taught algebra or even subjects like trigonometry and vectors, and secondary students might be taught calculus, differential equations and linear algebra. It is my experience over thirty-five years of contact with bright students that acceleration to higher level mathematics is often not a good idea. In this paper, I will articulate some of the factors that have led me to this opinion and suggest alternatives. First, I would like to emphasize that in matters of education, almost every statement that can be made to admit counterexamples; my opinion on acceleration is no exception. Occasionally, a young Gauss or Euler walks in the door, and one has no choice but to offer the maximum encouragement and allow the student to go to the limit of his capabilities. A young genius can demonstrate an incredible amount of mathematical insight, maturity and mastery of technique. A classical example is probably the teen-age Euler, who in the 1720s was allowed regular audiences with Jean Bernoulli, the foremost mathematician of his day.