GIFTED, TALENTED STUDENTS AND THEIR CHALLENGES.
PRESENTED BY ANDRE ROLLER, AN ADELAIDE-BASED EDUCATOR
Andre has been a prominent figure in South Australian education:
Teaching at Scotch College and at Prince Alfred College in 2003 to head classes designed for gifted and talented students.
They represent about 2.2 percent of the population, are disadvantaged and generally ignored or dealt with inappropriately. They either subsume or become naughty.
They demonstrate:
Frustration - irritability, anxiety, tedium and social isolation
Underachievement
Fear of failure and risk avoidance due to perfectionism (instituted by school).
Lack of resilience (reinforced by easy work and misguided praise).
Hiding talents to fit in with peers.
Nonconformity and resistance to authority.
Andre went on to talk about the many types of intelligence and illustrated with prominent world figures.
He was lucky enough to be appointed as the inaugural teacher of the first purely gifted class in Australia at PAC. It was the only way proven to give them a sense of belonging and normalcy.
Research shows that the only way to help students to become normal is to put them with other gifted students who appreciate their interests, quirks, passions and ideas.
He challenged their scientific or performance-based projects, which forced them to listen, learn, argue, debate, reason, reflect and act with confidence.
Andre mentioned case studies of several students and how they found their true creative talents and converted them to successful careers and lives.
In summary, never judge, label or make assumptions. Let students develop at their own pace according to their personal cognitive development.
Andre is also a photographer and videographer.
Gerry Greenway introduced his friend Andre, a fellow Buddies Breakfast acquaintance.
They are pictured together after a pleasant dinner at The Goody Hotel.
DURING THE MEETING GERRY WAS INDUCTED AS A PAUL HARRIS FELLOW, A SERVICE HONOUR BESTOWED BY ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.