Why Twice Exceptional Students Hate School
Traditional education is the opposite of what 2e and neurodivergent kids need
Twice exceptionality
Twice exceptional (2e) refers to someone who is considered intellectually gifted and also has a disability, or is neurodivergent. Someone is 2e if they are gifted as well as having a physical disability, learning disability, Autism. ADHD, among many others.
Before I explain why these students are particularly underserved by our public education system, I want to acknowledge that being identified as “gifted” in itself is a highly problematic process.
IQ tests are inherently biased. They were developed by white, male scholars who were also usually wealthy. The measurements are based on “ideal” gifted characteristics of rich white men, failing to consider cultural and gender differences (among many other flaws).
While I do find full psychoeducational assessments very helpful in identifying a student’s particular strengths and weaknesses (such as processing speed and working memory), I must also acknowledge the privilege and bias which come with being identified as “gifted”.
Spiky brains
Twice exceptional and neurodivergent (ND) students have what we call a “spiky” (or asynchronous) cognitive profile. This means that they really excel at some things and really struggle with others.
These students have some skills in the exceptionally high range, and others in the very low range, whereas most people’s abilities vary within the average range.
Schools teach to the statistical average, and this type of education is very frustrating for 2e and ND learners.
For example, Canada’s public schools (and many others) teach using a spiral curriculum, where they circle back to the same concepts each year, while adding layers of complexity and difficulty.
This is essentially the opposite of what most 2e and ND students need to thrive or succeed in school.
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