A Bill of Rights for Teachers of Gifted Students

As we return to school this fall, our thoughts turn to gifted students and their educators. Many teachers of the gifted report that although they are collaborative members of a faculty or faculties, they often function as a department of one -  in their schools, districts, and cities. They wish that they had more opportunities to network with other educators in gifted education. They wish that other educators, administrators, parents, and students understood their unique (and sometimes lonely) position and the unique needs of the students and families that they serve. They especially wish that others understood that gifted students will not necessarily be fine on their own, and that they, too, need opportunities to develop their gifts and talents. Gifted students need materials, resources, and accommodations because they have special needs. 
To highlight these needs, Del Siegle, the president of
The National Association for Gifted Children
in 2007, crafted the Gifted Children's Bill of Rights, in which he highlighted the needs of gifted students as “rights”. Siegle proposed that gifted children have these rights:
You have a right to...

• know about your giftedness.
  
• learn something new everyday.
  
• be passionate about your talent area without apologies.
  
• have an identity beyond your talent area.
  
• feel good about your accomplishments.
  
• make mistakes.
  
• seek guidance in the development of your talent.
  
• have multiple peer groups and a variety of friends.
  
• choose which of your talent areas you wish to pursue.
  
• not to be gifted at everything.
  

Later, in 2016, inspired by Siegle’s work, Jeff Danielian wrote
A Bill of Rights for Teachers of Gifted Students,
and it appears on the NAGC website. Danielian shared these rights:
Teachers of Gifted Students Have a Right to…

• Advocate for their students and their best interests.
  
• Modify the existing curriculum.
  
• Attend comprehensive training to aid in identifying and serving gifted children from all backgrounds.
  
• Seek out new and innovative ideas and resources.
  
• Try new approaches, strategies, practices, and tools in the classroom.
  
• Provide enrichment opportunities driven by student interest and passion.
  
• Promote the skills of higher order thinking, problem solving, creativity, and autonomous learning.
  
• Supportive state and district policies for gifted programs and services.
  
• Take into account their students’ diverse social, emotional, cultural, and economic backgrounds.
  
• Set the standard for great educational practice.
  
• Say, “This student needs something different.”
  

As I read through both bill of rights lists, they reminded me that one of the best places to gain knowledge about gifted students’ needs and the needs of their educators is to attend the WATG Virtual Fall Conference October 3-5, Leading the World Into the Future. We guarantee that you will learn how to advocate for your students and their programming needs. You will learn about acceleration, differentiation, and modifying curriculum to meet the needs of your gifted students. You will learn about your students’ social and emotional needs. You will learn about identifying diverse gifted students, and ensuring that your programming meets their needs. You will network and share ideas and resources. You will learn to advocate at the local, state, and national level, and will hear about current advocacy efforts in our state and nation. 
With this learning, you will become a more inspired, courageous, passionate, and compassionate teacher of gifted students. Your rights and the rights of your students will be honored. And best of all, you will not be alone! You will join a network of people working toward the same awesome goals. This opportunity is not to be missed. Please join us!
(WATG would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr. Martha Aracely Lopez of Milwaukee Public Schools for translating this article into Spanish for our Spanish-speaking families and educators. The translation can be found in our website blogs.)