Will, Emma (SEN)
From:	Karen Salamon [cwt@netstra.com.au]
Sent:	Wednesday, 14 March 2001 9:31 PM
To:	eet.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	Argus newsletter 8/3/01
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>Subject: Argus newsletter 8/3/01
>Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2001 13:00:51 +1100
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>     Avenue Resources for Gifted Understanding and Support The Avenue
>Neighbourhood House Inc, 48 Blackburn  Road, Blackburn 3130 Tel:  9878
>8056, Fax:  9874 2745, Email argusgt@hotmail.com  Website
>http://www.vicnet.net.au/~argus Dear All,   The 10th State Conference of
>The Queensland Association for Gifted  and Talented Children Inc.     See
>their website at http://users.bit.net.au/~qagtcinc/qagtc2001.htm   * * * *
>* * * * *
>
> Senate  Committee Inquiry on Gifted Education. The  deadline for
>submissions has been extended.
>   throughout Australia. Submissions do not  need to be long or
>complicated, they may short success stories or personal  accounts.     
>Although the closing  date was last week, the inquiry will continue to
>receive submissions for about  two more weeks 
>Following is a  questionaire written by Shirley Archer's and posted on
>OzGifted.     Our anecdotal  reports of
>our children's experience are important and will be read -- so  please take
>the time to fill out and forward this questionnaire, or
>  Although the closing date was last week, the inquiry will  continue to
>receive submissions for about two more weeks.
>
>Once you fill  out the questionnaire, you can submit it by email (the
>inquiry prefers this) to:  eet.sen@aph.gov.au
>
>   This is a public document.     That way they at least get your  views.
>
>
>_____________________________________________
>
>Senate  Committee of Inquiry into the Education of Gifted and
>Talented  Children:
>Submission
>
>Name:Karen Salamon
>Phone:9841 4210
>Postal  Address:8 Dempster Ct Donvale 3111
>
>Questionnaire:
>
>  Does your child have access to an  appropriate education?
>   ]Don't really know yet.>
>  Do you feel that  regular teachers at your school have the training that
>is needed to teach gifted  children?
>   ]No
>
>  Part of the government's  strategy for the education of gifted and
>talented students is that: `After 1995  all schools, where feasible,
>should seek to emply at least one teacher who  has training in the
>education of gited and talented students.' Are any of the  teachers at your
>school
>   ]I think so; one.
>
>  How many teachers at your school  appear to understand the academic,
>social, and emotional needs of the gifted  child?
>     ] one or two
>
>5. How many teachers at your school are approachable with  respect to
>gifted issues?
>     ]some
>
>  Does your school use a proceedure to  identify students of high potential?
>   ]No>
>  Is  it common for gifted children in your school to receive a curriculum
>that is  different from the non-gifted students in the classroom?
>    ]No
>
>  Is accelerated progression through grades an option for gifted  students
>at your school?
>   ]Yes
>
>  Which subject(s)  are taught using ability grouping?  None          ]
>
>  Does your school provide mentorships for gifted  studnets?
>   ]No
>
>  Do you believe that your  gifted child's education has been damaging to
>his/her social and emotional  well-being?
>   ]In some ways
>
>   All  teacher qualifications should
>include training in the education of gifted and  talented students Y/N [ ]Yes
>
>  Implementing a proceedure  to identify students of high potential
>   ]yes
>
>   Ability grouping in regular classes
>   ]For some subjects, not all>
>   Allowing accelerated progression through the grades
>    ]If this would benefit the individual child only
>
>  Compacting curriculum within regular classes
>   ]yes
>
>  Providing mentorships for gifted students
>   ]yes
>
>  Special classes for gifted children to allow  compacting of curriculum
>and enrichment opportunities
>    ]maybe - would require a large school
>
>  Extra funding for gifted education
>Yes
>Append any other  comments below:   Other questions suggested on OzGifted
>have  included:      private /public Catholic
>Your gifted child's current  grade 4
>Does your gifted child have access to an appropriate education? Y/N
>  Did you change schools to obtain access to an appropriate  education?
Y/N no
> If yes - How many  times?
>
>I am not yet sure if the education is appropriate. There have been few
problems so far with his academic progress, but recently he has been 'in
trouble' quite a few times, for talking/being cheeky. I think the reasons
are multiple - maybe a bit of boredom, especially in subjects where he
cannot extend himself (which he has always been good at doing as he sets
his own challenges) e.g. maths; partly trying to be 'cool' as it not cool
to be always good at your work and he doesn't want to be a 'goody-goody'
(his words); and partly being asked by other children for the
answers/information. I do not believe his results/report reflect his
ability and I'm having some trouble getting these issues addressed. In
other ways the school has been excellent as he has had some emotional
issues and they have been very caring. He has always been in 3-way
multi-age classes which has been good, although not always offered work at
a higher level ?maybe he's been so distracted he hasn't finished his own
level, but I think he'd work better being challenged more.
There definitely needs to be more education for teachers so they are aware
of these issues - children like my son are in danger of being labelled
'naughty' or a 'smart aleck' but why should they be bored? Teachers need to
be able to pick the symptoms as the child will not approach the teacher and
explain his behaviour. (He may, however, if asked - and has made a couple
of telling comments to me.)
Karen Salamon
>
>
>