Teachers’ attitudes towars education of gifted pupils

Abstract

The goal of the study was to find out what is the influence of theoretical, practical and personal experience of teachers on their attitudes supporting giftedness and education of gifted pupils. The research group was 973 teachers from primary schools and grammar schools from the whole Czech Republic. The research technique used was a questionnaire consisting of statements - attitudes towards giftedness which were evaluated on a 1-5-point scale. Statements were then subjected to factor analysis which resulted into F1 factor: Investment to giftedness and F2 factor: Education supporting gifted pupils. We are discovering that most of the teachers have positive attitudes in F1 factor rather than F2 factor. Positive attitudes of the pedagogues towards giftedness is positively influenced by personal experience with giftedness and the intensity of the contact with gifted pupils. The theoretical experience does not have an influence towards the attitudes of the teachers. © The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology.