The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1931-11-05

as in music or mathematics, Is rare,
and is usually due to emphasis on
that aspect Of the child's general
ability. Such children. when they
are educated in the enrichment"
or opportunity" classes described
in the report, show that they can
excel also in activities in which they
have been apparently weak. A
young musical prodigy, for in
stance, who had never gone to gym
and was both awkward and frail-
looking, when tutored until he was
up with the other children, proved
capable of SURPRISING many of
them in games, and a literary"
little girl who was regular book
worm and did not know how to
play with other children, soon de-
veloped ability to get along happily
with them and even to lead them
in their play.
Practically all efforts to provide
for gifted children an education
which will be more suited to their
powers than the classroom work
for the average child, fall under
two headings; the enrichment meth
cd and the rapid progress method.
The practice of giving double pro-
motion to the brightest individuals
was begun sixty years ago. Thirty
years later groups of these chill
dren began to be taught together,
covering three years work in two.
aff mic n nd h
dissatisfaction by school principals
and teachers, and in many cities
they have been abandoned altogeth-
er. The children get into high
school and college when they are
too young. Though they can keep
up in their academic work, in ev-.
erything else they are insists.
In cities where the enrichment
method has been tried for more
than ten years, as in Cleveland and
Los Angeles, the enthusiasm in
favor of it has been steadily grow
ing, not only among school author
tiles but among the children and
their parents. Such a class covers
the regular curriculum for the
grade plus one extra subject and in
the time that is left over each child
undertakes a special piece of work,
either by himself or in cooperation
with two or three others, chosen af-
ter consultation with the teacher.
Tables and chairs take the place
Of fixed desks and seats. The room
has a reference library of it's own,
and the children move about with
great freedom, look up information
and prepare reports and the &C
companying illustrative material.
Children who learn so much faster
than their classmates, when they
are in the ordinary classroom, that
they are in danger of developing
into behavior problems, become so
interested and occupied in the en-
richment class that the question of
poor behavior does not arise.
Several studies have been made
comparing children who have been
in such a class with equally bright
children who have remained in the
regular grade. In those who have
had the advantages of the enrich
ment method the desire to show off
is less highly developed and there
is greater evidence of the qualities
Of leadership.
This White House Conference
report urges every community to
take steps to select its gifted chill
dren and to educate them accord
ing to the enrichment method.
Even the rural school teacher who
understands the principle of it can
give the specially bright boy she
may find in her district suppleme-
mentary reading and research work
which will! call for fuller use of
his abilities. Since "in democ-
racy, more than in any other form
of government. high class leader
ship is essential" the sub-commit-
tee recommends, "active and effic-
lent steps. to save this gigantic
number of children from the idle
ness, the more or less malicious
mischief, and the neglect which Is
their portion in the average public
schools of today. Failure to de,
velop the very bright to their high
est capacity represents waste OF
the kind that we can least afford"