ABSTRACT
Almost fifty percent of our most able youth do not develop to their fullest potential. The lower socio-economic groups represent the greatest areas of wasted talent. Due to the stigma of poverty, the economically disadvantaged child is under represented in gifted and talented programs. Children reared in poverty not only face a challenge when entering the educational system but create a challenge for educators as well. The economically disadvantaged student can no longer be ignored or dismissed as uneducable.
Social workers can bring to the educational system the means through which to intervene in society’s subculture of the economically disadvantaged. They can serve as catalysts in bridging the gap between the educational system, the community and individual families. Educators should call upon the social workers to work in concert to address the problems of identifying and educating the economically disadvantaged gifted and talented child.
