ABSTRACT
A common problem in schools is the belief that many educators have that gifted children “will make it on their own.” Quite the contrary, children with gifts and talents, including those from diverse backgrounds, need to be taught and guided to develop their potential. In a climate of high-stakes testing and the adherence to scripted curriculum, the humanness of the profession has been overrun with a mechanistic approach to instruction. Antwone Fisher, an award-winning film and literary writer, was born in a Cleveland, OH, prison to a teenage mother and was raised in the foster care system. Teachers must explore their own perceptions of groups other than themselves. For those students who come from diverse backgrounds, it is important for educators to familiarize themselves with their cultural backgrounds. Community resources can supplement learning and help those children who are limited by the curriculum in the classroom.
