Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-29
BY Frederic j. Haskin

Washington, u. c., Jan. 2s THAT the
gifted child needs a special kind OF
schooling. just as much as tho dcfcc-
tive child, If he is TO reach his tuli
usefulness, is an idea which is gaining
recognition in this country.
In Germany, 1t appears. 1t has been
fully recognized. American educators
arc studying tho German system Of
schools for gifted pupils. The Buroau
OF Education is giving special atten-
ton to the problem. In a few AmcrI-
can cities tentative efforts have been
made TO establish special schools or
classes for the gifted.
Tho argument for such schools is
this: Among school children is a ccr-
tain percentage who are highly and
specifically gifted. They are tho chill
drcn who will. or at least may. become
artists. writers, composers. original
scientific investigators. leaders in var
ious lines. They represent nothing less
than the future creative power OF the
race and OF the nation. II Is the work
OF such people that makes II ctviliza-
ton. The rest merely carry on what
tho creators start.
Surely. then. these children are
worthy of special attention. surely an
Intelligent nation viii mako every ef-
fort to find them out and help them
along. Yet this has never been done
in this country.
II is useless to pretend that tho reg
ulnr school course is suited to tho
gifted child. II is necessarily adapted
to tho average child. Tho gifted child
usually suffers in two ways. In the
81. b., fnkp ng slow
aud pIoddinS routine OF IT, and In the
second place he gets no adequate train
ing in his special line Tho boy with
a gift for drawing. for instance, ia
punished FOR making n cartoon OF the
teacher in the back OF his book when
he should be studying algebra But
II n school system knew how TO use rs
human material. this boy would at
once be put in an art class, and he
would not he forced to take 4 great
deal of mathematics, which perhaps ho
could neither use nor comprehend.
Jndcrfed and tuhcrcular children
arc placed i'm outdoor schools in many
cities. and given suitable attention.
The abnormaIly dun child IL cared for
in a special class, where his case rs
studied and he is taught as an indt-
vidual so that what powers lie has
may develop. In an ordinary school
room these types are unable TO CON
form to conditions and are "A constant
worry to tho teacher. So they arc
provided for in most city schools. But
the bright child. who is Just a. much in
| need OF special attention, and 80 much
| better worth it. Is usually disrcga Td"d.
The German idea is to have tho
children who seem brightest to their
teachers observed for two years aud
given tests by a board OF examiners
and school supcrintcndcnts. Those no
do not seem promising during the trial
years are dropped from the compct-
| ton and put back with tno regular pu-
| pills. The survivors arc then sent to
school for gifted pupils and divided
| into classes, those who wish clusH-
| cal course and those who are moro
| interested in a course with modern Ian
| ruages as a basis.
| An this is purely academic The
pupils are taught the usual high school
| subjects. but the course is cnrichtd.
and adapted to their superior mental
! ity Many of them. presumably WIZ
use tho training as foundation for
university work and become writer's.
scientists. and statesmen.
This plan has been tried out In Bcr-
| lin now for throc years. In the main
| II Is considered successful. and N is
being extended TO different parts of the
country The difficulties arc in details
tho basis on which candidates should
| be SelCCteI. anu lHe tllird'ltT VI llt
training to be given them.
| 1t is interesting to note that the
desirablos arc chosen by intelligence
| and psychological tests. Germany has
always been country where cduca-
| ton progressed from one examination
| to another cNamination-all fact tests,
Tho new measurement is entirely dlf-
| fcrcnt The various cities have their
| own tests, but i'm ono city which is
probably typical the candidate IL
gauEcd according to such points as
attention. memory. imagination. think
| ing ability. expression thru language
susceptibility TO fatigue. disposition
and viii, and power OF observation.
Developing Talents
The schools for the all-round bright
children nave suggested need for Il
similar system OF scGregating those
who are particularly good at one
ng-mathematics, or drawing, or
physics. This typo is now being pro-
vidcd for in some German cities with
the idea of developing talents of those
who may distinguish themselves in
artistic or scientific pursuits,
such children may not be accounted
good students. but II they show some
talent they arc given examination in