Pondering the term “Gifted” through a Romeo and Juliet lens

Abstract

The dialogues, debates, and even arguments resulting from misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and mishandling of programs and people associated with the term “giftedness” are longstanding. Despite many years of efforts to assuage concerns of equity and need—many of which are legitimized by research evidence, the terminology continues to be obscured by its lack of precision. Relying on a continuing comparison with Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this treatise explores the terminological conundrum of “giftedness” and offers what is hoped is a creative avenue for contemplating the field of gifted education and psychology. Culminating with a modest proposal to begin systematically ameliorating the many problems with the term “giftedness,” the essay is positioned as an action item rooted in evidence.