Content area
Abstract
The purpose of this dissertation is to consider Nel Noddings' conception of caring and the implications it has for conceptions of giftedness commonly operationalized as criteria for including children in gifted programs in our schools. Current conceptions of giftedness commonly consist of general definitions of giftedness along with qualities and characteristics assumed to be predictive of future success, personal fulfillment and benefit to society. I will advocate recognition of valuable qualities suggested by Noddings in her description of caring as manifestations of giftedness. In addition, I will consider the implications that recognizing caring as gifted might have for the identification and education of gifted girls and women.
Typically, giftedness is understood as a psychological construct. However, decisions made by educators about including children in special programs for the gifted have strong ethical components and implications. Since the conceptualization of "caring" is, for the most part, philosophically based; and because of the ethical issues involved in judgments about what is recognized as gifted, it is appropriate to conduct this study in that milieu. Therefore, I will adopt the form of a philosophical treatise for this dissertation. One approach to philosophical research is to analyze concepts and to consider possible relationships and connections between or among concepts. Another function of philosophical writing is attempting to identify unrecognized assumptions in practices which can help to inform our thinking as to attitudes and values inherent in the assumptions in question. In so doing, the intent is not to provide empirical proof for the ideas advanced in the treatise, but rather to offer a philosophically justified and literature based explanation for the plausibility of an argument.
The ideas advanced will be grounded in literature on both gifted education and feminine ethics. However, I will suggest and present my own interpretation of these ideas for the reader's consideration and will hopefully contribute to the understanding of any relationships that might exist among concepts being considered.
