At the 11th State Conference of the Queensland Association for Gifted and Talented Children Inc.

our conference theme was:

Forward to the Basics!
Revisiting the basic tenets of gifted education;
Storming the bastion of mediocrity through gifted education

The theme emerged out of concern that recurring "Back to Basics" movements in education have meant that governments and systems are focusing education funding on benchmarks designed to bring low achievers up to an acceptable standard. This has resulted in:

• lowering the bar so that all can step over (no need to aim high)
• directing the attention and energies of educators towards helping everyone achieve mediocrity

Parents, teachers, school administrators, tertiary educators and community leaders need to unite to turn this sorry state of affairs around. Let's move forward by refocusing attention on our basics: who are the gifted children and what are their needs?

As Barbara Clark points out in her seminal text Growing Up Gifted (1997) it is a matter of national concern that education aims at achievement of excellence. It should be as great a concern that this includes developing the gifted among us. With regard to the whole range of ability levels we must provide opportunities for the fullest realisation of talent. It is a travesty of the principles of equity that the uninformed attitudes and beliefs of many educators, funding decision makers and community members have promoted prejudice and ignorance in the face of the needs of these children.

Gifted education should engage in two equally critical tasks:

• to support and enhance the appropriate education of gifted learners, those functioning or who have the ability to function at high levels of intelligence, and
• to support and enhance the talent in all learners so that all children may realize their fullest potential to the highest levels of their ability. Clark, 1997:6

As I repeatedly say our natural reticence has no place in the light of escalating needs and diminished support for gifted children today. We have a responsibility to learn more about giftedness and to advocate for the children.

By joining QAGTC, attending our conferences, supporting our endeavours and strengthening our networks you are most welcome in this special community of learners.

Judith Hewton