Gifted children must be indentified early: Experts<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Education experts and psychologists agreed at
\na conference here yesterday that early identification and proper
\neducation are crucial elements in the development process of
\ngifted children.<\/p>\n
The Post-Workshop 4th Asia-Pacific Conference on Giftedness
\nwas held by the Psychology department of the Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity and the Indonesian Foundation for the Education and
\nDevelopment of Gifted Children.<\/p>\n
Dorothy Sisk from the U.S.-based Lamar University in Texas
\nproposed the Step Up Project, which aimed to help economically
\ndisadvantaged gifted children.<\/p>\n
According to Sisk, the project's emphasis is placed on various
\npretests conducted prior to students' admission, including
\ndemography, teacher's assessment and understanding children's
\nparents.<\/p>\n
\"This project is not only enriching the lives of bright
\nminority students, but these students are also contributing
\npositively to the entire school as role models and enthusiastic
\nlearners,\" Sisk, who had conducted the research project on the
\nnative American Navajo tribe, said.<\/p>\n
An educator from the Yogyakarta Institute of Art noted the
\nimportance of detecting a child's giftedness as early as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
\"Who knows? We may discover artists with capabilities similar
\nto Beethoven or Mozart,\" Soedarso S.P. said.<\/p>\n
According to Soedarso, participative methods such as field
\npractices can be used to improve the quality of teachers in the
\nregion to be better equipped to discover their students' special
\ntalents.<\/p>\n
Supra Wimbarti from the Child Psychology department of Gadjah
\nMada University seconded Soedarso's opinion that Indonesian
\ngifted children have not been receiving the attention they
\ndeserve.<\/p>\n
Obstacles faced in identifying gifted children, according to
\nSupra, include teachers' quality, lack of attention given to
\ngifted children from their parents and society and the scarcity
\nof experts on gifted people.<\/p>\n
Supra suggested that an action program based on improving
\nnetworks between researchers and policymakers be implemented in
\nhandling gifted children.<\/p>\n
F.J. Monks from the University of Nijmegen contrasted the
\ndifferent education system in China with that of the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
In the Netherlands, Monks said, there is no special selection
\nprocess or separate classes held for gifted students.<\/p>\n
\"They are all given an equal opportunity,\" Monks added,
\nreferring to the Self Concept Score applied in the Netherlands,
\nwhich indicates gifted children's different abilities.<\/p>\n
The score is a compilation of an intelligence test, personal
\nmotivation test, creativity test and a locus of self control
\nscale.<\/p>\n
China, on the other hand, differentiates gifted children by
\nproviding a special school from kindergarten through university.<\/p>\n
In Monks opinion, this differentiation puts gifted children in
\na high-risk stress position because they would have to work hard
\nto maintain their position in the special classes. (30\/14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gifted-children-must-be-indentified-early-experts-1447893297",
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