The Washington herald., 1922-01-08
BRIGHT COLLEGE
STUDENT TO GET
BETTER CHANCE
Scientists Discuss How
To Develop Superior
Mentality.
SUNDAY, JANUARY & 1874.


cue Of the poor little bright col
Ieee student They are working
on means OF giving exceptionally
bright students in colleges and
universities the opportunities for
developing TO their full capacity.
A meeting OF the division OF edu-
cstIonal relations Of the National
Research Council was held recently
to consider this problem. DR.. Yer
non Kellogg. permanent secretary
Of the National Research Council.
explains the problem as follows:
In these days when we are be-
ginning to realize that a college
education is a costly thing and
when at the same time the accom-
modations Of all OF our colleges and
universities are being crowded be-
yond tolerable limits, attention 10
being more and more closely
focused upon carefully discriminate
ing between students OF varying
degrees OF innate ability. The fire.
Quent failures in freshmen and
sophomore classes Indicate that q
considerable number OF those who
have sspired 10 a college eouca-
tion, for one reason or another
ere unable to assimilate IL and
would really become more useful
citizens n they engaged in other
pursuits at once.
At the other end OF the scale
systematic study indicates that 3
or even 10 per cent OF an aver
age student body is made up OF
students Of distinctly superior abil-
ity. The actual capacity Of these
few students Is So far ahead Of
the average capacity Of the great,
body OF students as 20 require uu-
limited opportunities for best de-
velopment while men and women
OF average capacity will certainly do
substantial work IL seems logical
to expect that the leaders in in
tellectual activity will come from
this small group OF unusually gift
ed men ana women. The proper
education OF these s9Perior stu
dents thus becomes a matter 81 the
greatest Importance in our system
Of higher education.
In order 20 define the profile
and to consider means for systemst-
ioGlly studying this situation the
division Of educational relations OF
the National Research Council
called an informal conference
which was attended by a number
Of men from institutions where the
problem OF the unusually gifted
student has been given distinct at
tention. In addition TO contribU-
uons from those who attended the
conference there are available the
results OF study OF this problem
which had been made under the
auspices OF the National Research
Council by Professor 6. W. Stew
art, OF the University Of Iowa,
through personal visits TO nearly
seventy colleges and universities in
the spring OF 1921.
Giving adequate attention 10 tho
superior student involves at once
a consideration Of possible mod 4 %
cations Of the standard college cur
riculUm through the Introduction 81
liberal honors courses. relief from
routine obligations, extension Of
library privileges and conference,
with Instructors. the awarding Il
fellowships and prizes, and the cul-
tivation' OF an attitude OF respect
for Intellectual attainment The
whole object Is to give the super5V.
student as much work as he car
satisfactorily carry and at the same
time let hum take advantage Of
whatever use the standard courses
may be to him which have beer
devised for the general student
body.
College entrance boards are con-
ing TO demand as a basis for their
judgment in the admission OF stu
dents other data than prcparatur.
school records alone or ability u
pass stated entrance examinations
Careful tests OF mental ability con
tribute an important element to .
basis for sound judgment. The p,f
lection Of these composite tc.f-
will make il possible TO eliminat l.,
students who could not hope foE
success and also to recognize thu>l
whose ability is deserving Of sp,,
cisl cultivation. This movement TO.
the Intelligent discrimination %.
students on the basis Of their in
dividusl capacity and pos hiliti,-
for leadership l. undoubtedly uU
OF the most important eytirPmy ut
! in educational progress at present
and IL reaches into the high school
and grammar school system az vel.
as into the college Levels. W. u.