European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 12, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sas photos by Mike Heronemus How do you define gifted ? two years after adopting a program for talented students High school teacher overseas remain split aver what commutes gifted student and what. Ultimately should Bedone for hem. The program called the Renzulli Model envisions As Many As 20 percent of a school s students As being talented in some area of study it contends that since talented students learn faster time is available within the curriculum Lor special learning activities. Let s Eay you finish a whole year s curriculum in a half year said Flay Esack talented arid gifted coordinator at Wei Brocken High school. You be got a half year to do a whole lot of enrichment. Renzulli Calls hat curriculum compacting " Bui Many classroom teachers say curriculum demand Sand shortened class time associated with Tho seven period Day preclude enrichment activities in the department of defense dependents schools system. I was pro Renzulli said Susan West who teaches world history to talented and gifted students a Wiir Burg High school. But now i m against it. You have to teach Basic areas and there in t Lime Lor the enrichment activities that Renzulli talks about Kurt Kamerud teaches 1 dirt Grade biology and seventh Grade science 1o gifted students or Talent Pool students As hey Are known under the Renzulli scheme. The Wurzburg High school instructor said Renzulli s concept is not compatible Edh the seven period Day. The class periods arc Loo Short. We have to Force students of to Independent they need to work As much is they can by themselves. I m Only one person and i can l to everywhere at once. The preparation work for these classes is  other teachers say Renzulli overestimates the number of Taten Lod and billed students it s 2 percent not Loor is percent said Frank Yatos. Frankfurt High school math department chairman i can took Down a is and Sec kids who Aio getting is and is but Are tag students. A Label does not make them  Dan Pukula who has Laughl Avih Mckin a Lois Grade Talent Pool English class for to years cautioned educators from other dodos schools visit fun tug to hear specialist Mary below explain local tag program. Teachers to remain realistic. You still have to work within structures of the curriculum. You re not totally tree. But you can get students involved in other things Tike recreating a greek chorus. A lot of Leachore thought tag kids Weie people with adult habits in kids bodies. They re still kids they still do the same Squirrel things kids do it s just Wien they bits into something they bile harder Mike Shelley supervisor of the Germany Region s talented and gifted specialists defended the decision to adopt Renzulli s concept. The Model in sound makes common sense and covers a wide spectrum of students he said. There s a High level of  Shelley Points to a 1985-86 Survey to support his Contention. Basdon data supplied by Germany Region tag coordinators 74 percent of the students and teachers and 89 percent of she principals have a positive Altitude about he program High school tag specialists admit the Model has shortcomings but insist the program my work Renzulli knows his secondary program was  said Lucky Moore tag specialist at Munich High school. Thai s Why tie published a supplement to his manual but the problem in t the Model it s teachers who Don t understand the program thai s the Case in any hmm. You have to sell the program. You have to be highly visible tag Ioa Cheis can make or teak the  Esack said he still encounters resistance irom the faculty three years after the school initiated Tho program. Wei Bricken and Elj Ryburg imitated the program As a Pilot it Oiecki one year before full implementation throughout the Germany Region there s still hostility Esack said. You can i get away irom n when you Don t know what s going on m a certain Aroa you lend to feel thai Way " to advises other tag in achors to look to Vio Simiu leathers to build the program. I had one woman who was absolutely hostile Whon we sailed this program now Sho supports in Thal 5 what i iry to do Al Zivetz Myckon i look to people who Aio belligerent and a them Over Stephen Macdonell with Carrot tops thai Are used in project to learn Tow plants grow roots. April 12, 1987 the stars and stripes Page 15 i