reasons

= Ability does not equal success. =

Often gifted students are not able to display their talent. These students are difficult to identify and as such are commonly referred to as the //Hidden gifted//.

Australian, American and New Zealand studies have all shown economically disadvantaged or culturally diverse children are particularly likely to fall into this category. As a multicultural society New Zealand educators cannot accept a model that disadvantages culturally diverse students.

Some students intentionally hide their talents in order to better fit in, Betts and Neihart (1988) label this group of students ‘The Underground Gifted’. Students in New Zealand may be even more inclined to do just this due the nations anecdotal ‘tall poppy syndrome’.

Bored students are likely to misbehave and/or disengage from school. Similarly some gifted students will choose simply to 'coast' through school on there natural ability. Such students will have average to poor grades and are unlikely to be highly esteemed by their teachers.

Anderson, 2000., Gross, 2004., MacRae & Lupart, 1991.