Asian American Gifted Students-Take a Closer Look

With my finance being of Chinese descent, I have enjoyed a first-hand look into the culture and beliefs of an immigrant Asian family. Born in Cambodia, my finance, her mother, father, five sisters, and two brothers fled the savage attacks brought on during the countrys civil war in the 1970s. Arriving in Florida, many of her siblings married and had children of their own. Ive seen the strict importance placed on education, working hard, and respecting elders. Ive witnessed how the teenagers in the family, though wanting to emulate their peers, are forbidden to date until well into their college years. On a given Sunday, a visit to one of my finances sisters homes will find her two high school-aged sons studying Advanced Placement chemistry or trigonometry. Discussions among the children in the family often involve how they want to be pharmacists, doctors, and other professionals.

Needless to say, when I learned that Asian Americans are overrepresented in gifted programs, it did not surprise me. The culture lends itself to academic achievement and positioning children to be screened and identified for gifted services. However, the more I studied the subject, the more questions began to surface. If so many of Asian American children are enrolled in gifted programs, why are they not being studied to the extent of other minority or special populations, such as African American or gifted females? What do we really know about this so-called Model Minority? We know they get selected more for gifted classes, but are those services the right fit? Are these Asian American gifted learners being successful? What are their emotional and social needs? Do they face unique challenges as gifted learners due to possibly language barriers or cultural conflicts?

These are questions that teachers, psychologists, researchers, and others involved in the education process should be asking. Rather than write this group off as doing fine, Im advocating that we take a closer look.

Overrepresented
According to a 2013 gifted education representation study by Anderson, Johnson, and Warn, Asian Americans have been overrepresented in gifted education across the nation since 1978 . As of 2006, Asian Americans were overrepresented in 41 out of 50 states. In sharp contrast, other minority groups, such as African Americans and Hispanics, have been underrepresented in gifted programs (though their numbers have gradually increased since 1994). Due to their higher numbers and academic success, Asian Americans have been dubbed the Model Minority.
Possible explanations for higher number of Asian Americans being screened and enrolled in gifted programs include high test scores and academic achievement stemming from the parental emphasis on educationcultural influences that stress respecting teachers and other adults , and ideal behavior in classrooms, which can lead to bias during the selection process. While the Asian American population has increased in the United States, and subsequently in gifted education, relatively little research has been conducted into this area.

We also havent examined whether the countrys gifted programs are truly meeting the needs of Asian American children on an academic or social/emotional level. For instance, since this group historically performs at a higher level, are the services and programs providing enough rigor? Are Asian American children being accelerated through curriculum and provided adequate enrichment opportunities to develop their strengths and talents?

Not a Perfect Minority Model
Furthermore, do we really know whether these children are receiving the counseling support they need? Is it possible Asian American students, gifted or otherwise, experience cultural conflict and identify issues due to differences with parents and family members from older generations?

In a scene from, The Joy Luck Club, a film about the relationships between Americanized daughters and their Chinese mothers, a young girl named June is pressured to master the piano. Though she purposely sabotages her own recital performance, her mother relentlessly demands that she practices her lessons. One day, after school, her mother tells her that it is four oclock and time to practice. The girl refuses and after some time blurts out This is not China. You cant make me!

The scene masterfully portrays the cultural conflict that some Asian American children experience with their parents.
While they may be gifted and academic achievers, these children may feel added-or enormous -pressure to succeed . These children may experience a dissonance between what their parents say and expect and what society is telling them, causing confusion and stress. Asian American students might feel a lack of independence in decision-making, causing further frustration and a loss of control. Furthermore, these same children could experience feelings of inadequacy brought on by high, possibly unreasonable expectations.

In a 1996 case study, researcher John Plucker described an Asian American student, who was selected for the gifted program in fifth-grade and participated in advanced classes during middle school, his mother was still concerned over his academic motivation, insisting that he study more. In an essay about being a Model Minority, author An Tran said, due to her race, she felt a constant pressure from her academic surroundings. She would cringe when hearing comments such as:

Oh, you must be smart, youre Asian, or Wait, you bombed your math exam? But youre Asian!

Unlike Tran, who is outspoken about the issue, the situation is further complicated by the fact the Asian culture does not encourage speaking openly to counselors or to those outside the family about feelings or emotional challenges.

These conditions and comments, although just a glimpse into the world of Asian American students, in my opinion are cause enough to further study the situation. With more knowledge and strategies, teachers of gifted and other educators could be more prepared to handle the social/emotional challenges and needs that Asian Americans may face.
Wishing you the best,
Steve