I heard a commercial this morning. It was talking about everyone having gifts and how honored we should be to have “gifts that make things easier for us in some areas of our lives.” I threw a pencil at my iHome dock across the room. Not really – I don’t throw pencils, but I wanted to. It was that phrase. ”Everyone has a gift,” and that word “easier.” The commercial was about human nature. It was not about education. It struck me. That is why the misinterpretations are there.
The word “gifted” carries so much weight. And that word “easier” gets roped in.
Easier to learn spelling words. Easier to teach grammar to. Easier to make ‘do chores.’ Easier to enjoy life. Easier to finish a project. Easier to learn math facts. Easier. Easier. Easier.
That is what people think “gifted” is. A false assumption that causes an insane lack of programs that feels like a dog chasing it’s tail at times. People are wrong.
It’s harder. Harder to overcome challenges. Harder to focus on mundane stuff when an intense desire to change the world rattles at your brain. Harder to teach because it’s harder to do the basics when you’re wanting to speed ahead, and can speed ahead, faster than your teacher.
Not worse. Harder. More challenging. As in… requiring greater support.
That’s right. Gifted isn’t about school being easier, it’s about kids needing more support.
That’s what that commercial reminded me of. And that’s why I wanted to throw my pencil. But I didn’t. I wrote a blog post instead.