Out-of-School Educatin for the Gifted and Talented around the World

No educational provision for the gifted and talented works in a cultural vacuum, and this is as true for out-of-school activities as for what happens in school itself. There is evidence that excellence in children's achievements can come from widely differing special provision or from no special provision at all. Cultural influences affect attitudes as to who might be gifted and talented and what might be done for them. Whatever the size and influence of special centres anywhere, there is always overlap between in-school and out-of-school activities. For all styles of provision, cooperation between the two is a vital aspect of success. The major cultural dichotomy in this field is between the perception, usually found in the Far East that 'most children have gifted potential' and the largely Western view that 'few children have gifted potential'. It is safe to say that children who are selected for aptitude and ability, and who are keen to learn, will get more from special enrichment than those who of equal potential who have not had that experience. But this does not necessarily show the provision as the best possible method for enhancing gifts and talents. In fact, I do not know of a single scientific investigation, either cross-culturally or within one country, which compares any aspect of an out-of-school programme with another. As a result it is hard to say what type of provision would be most appropriate and effective in any given situation. Outcomes are also dependent on the enthusiasm, organisation and money put into any scheme - as well as the way youngsters are chosen for it. Some of the largest and most influential out-of-school American institutions were founded on the psychological understanding of human abilities that was current in the 1920s. These early influences of seeking an IQ cut-off point (or equivalent) to identify the gifted still affect their practice. in addition, the big American Talent Searches so often select youngsters for summer-schools not only by their high-level achievements, but also by their parent's ability to pay the sometimes high fees. Opinions about the identification of the brightest children and consequential educational practice underlie all provision for their education, whether in or outside school hours. Because of cross-cultural differences, it would not seem wise to copy any action directly from one culture to another without recognising these influences and possibly modifying the model. The growing trend around the world is to offer high-level opportunities to as many youngsters as possible, so that no keen learner is turned away without even a change of sampling them.