The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-14
Gifted dlChiIdrert
By H. ADDINGTON BRUCE

| For several reasons uncommon interest at- taches to the findings of recent survey made by two education specialists, Charles Deich and Elmer B. Jones. This survey was essentially an analytical study of gifted boys and girls in high schools in Iowa.
 The principal of every high school was asked to select from his senior class the student who, because of intellectual ability, ranked above all others in the class. In this way the names of 316 scholastic stars" were obtained, and to each of these was sent a blank form containing a number of ques- l tions
 In the main, the questions bore on the students working methods, their activities outside of school, and, with regard to their parents. such matters as nationality, occupa- tion, and leading interests. From the an- swers received some most suggestive facts emerged. Perhaps of greatest significance is the light thrown on the relation between conditions in the home and excellence in scholarship.
 O: all the 316 gifted children, it appeared, almost S6 per cent. had parents who were social leaders" in one way or another, talk l ing a constructive interest in community wei fare and progress. Less than 2 per cent. cially poor but quite indifferent to their social obligations. eo
 In addition, the great majority of the su- perior students had parents who were skeenly interested in their children's progress, who encouraged their ambitions, and, though busy i themselves (the idle rich are conspicuously absent from the returns), found time to give some thought to their children's school work.
 With reason Drs. Deich and Jones com ment:
 "The parental training which is practically assured from such a group of parents sis in all probability such that it is conducive to a high grade of school work. It represents a type of influence which stimulates the stu dent to surpass his classmates in competitive educational work" --- -l
 Most of the gifted children were natives of Iowa, more than 60 per cent. are described as being of American descent, and more than 56 per cent. as living in the country. Of the remainder, moreover, "by far the greater number are from small towns, where they have had the full advantage of country life. " Thus the popular faith ill rural districts as breeding-grounds for talent is vindicated.
 Significant, too are the findings with re gard to study methods. They leave no doubt to put it briefly, that present school condi tions hamper the mental growth of gifted children by making inadequate demands or their powers.
 Notusless than 70 per cent reported tha they studied in rooms where others were talk ing, the majority did comparatively littl home study, nearly 30 per cent did no re viewing for examinations. and more than 6' per cent. engaged in outside activities of on, kind O. afbther, 31 per cent. doing worl that brought them pay. From all of thi Drs Deich and Jones conclude: "The investigation shows that not man: of the group have worked very hard to at tain their present high standing. It was no necessary The course of study is planne' and administered and taught for the larg middle group of all students that enter tn high school. .. Under such conditions the. } (the superior students) did not put fortl superior effort to attain their present higl rank"
 The obvious inference is that special school } ing should be provided for gifted boys an girls. just as special schooling now is pro . vided for the mentally subnormal. l eommen to school authorities everywhere close stud of this Iowa report, which may be obtaine by writing to the Bureau of Education, De partment of the Interior, Washington, ID.