Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-09
Educators Urge
Harder Course
For The Bright

I aA@'9eA9e%a
This country's brightest stu
dents must study harder and
high schools must revamp their
programs to make this possible.
q group of leading educators
agreed yesterday.
The educators, concluding q
Ithree-day conference on selec-
ton and development Of aca-
demically talented pupils, came
up with these suggestions,
among others:
/. At least four full years Of
one or more foreign languages
before college. beginning in
grade school where possible.
Q. At least three years Of
mathematics in high school,
and more for those particularly
talented in the field.
8. At least one good course
in biology and one in the physi-
cal sciences in the 18th and
18th grades, and eventually a
two or three year sequence in
physics, chemistry and biology.
4. Three years Of social
studies, at least one of them
devoted to American history.
5. Universal adoption of the
advanced placement program,
whereby talented pupils can
take college-level courses while
still in high school. The pupil
graduates with his class, but
enters college with advanced
standing or with credit toward
q college decree.
Deal With 15%
The educators, meeting here
under the auspices of the Ma
tional Education Association,
dealt solely with the problem
of superior students = about
is to 20 per cent of the high
school population. But in their
final reports they stressed that
anything done for this group
would inevitab bly, improve
American high school educa-
ton as q whole.
They agreed, too. that the
programs they outlined were
going to cost money. But they
m ade no recommendations
about where the money should
come from.
DR.. James B. Conant, presi-
dent emeritus Of Harvard Uni
versity and conference chair
man, said regional conferences
on the same subject would be
held in various parts of the
country to carry the proposed
programs down to the grass
roots.
Highlights of the proposals
included:
Science: Special classes, less
lecturing by the teacher. more
participation and special work
by the student. One good course
in biology and one in the ply
steal sciences In the 18th and
18th grades. Eventually an in
tegrated two-or- three-year Sc
quence in physics, chemistry
and biology. Accompanying
courses in mathematics should
be offered. Special facilities
should be provided. The use of
television. films and other aids
should be explored. Schools
should offer these science
courses no matter how small
the enrolment.
Foreign languages: A mini
mum Of four years in at least
one modern foreign language,
beginning as early as possible.
More Americans must learn the
Russian language. and the tai
ented student should also con-
slider the later study of the
languages Of the Near Feast, In
dia, China, Japan and Central
Africa.
Mathematics: A course of
study Of at least three years,
ranging up to four or five years
with special talents in the field.
Social studies: At least three
years of advanced work, in
Guiding a year of American his
tory. another year of history
other than American, and
a third year Of work which
should be in the other social
studies.
English: Every attempt
should be made to create a
climate in which the talented
student can work at his best.
If there is a student talented
in creative writing. an effort
should be made to bring him
together with a teacher who