But we don't do nearly enough for the small fraction who are highly gifted. We simply put them into "harder" or "higher level" classes than their peers. This isn't an acceptable solution. We need to stimulate them, to find out where their passions lie then feed them accordingly. Do they react better to lectures, or readings? Do they react better to more solitary studies, or in group environments? Do they need a standard amount of repetition to help boost retention, or does that simply bore them and artificially stunt their natural abilities?
We should do this for everyone. It's unclear to me why we should not find the passion and best way to teach "average" students too.
The only difference between "gifted" and "average" students is really how quickly they can learn certain material -- and maybe an increase in their ceiling for learning certain material. But I don't think there is a fundamental qualitative difference in how they should be taught.