When I took my first IQ test, the numerical outcome put me right up there in the doofus category. I don't remember if I was shocked, dismayed or numbed by the result but I do remember it. The 12 months leading up to that test was filled with anxiety, depression and a general hopelessness in my life that had just begun to improve. So, I guess the test accurately measured how I felt about myself more than what I was capable of.

Several years later, the next test result was 40-50 points higher. Needless to say my self-esteem did a little dance.

Gifted is subjective in my opinion. I have known many people that struggled with school and testing for many different reasons. Dyslexia being one of them. But out in the real world they were mentally gifted at solving problems, interacting with people and so on.

I agree there need to be programs that are felxible enough to fit the student. WHERE is it written that all students are the same? Nowhere. We are all different.

Thanks for writing this, George!