Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-14

| to wait for Sputnik to awaken
U.S." he observed. But what
ever the reason, we are now
moving rapidly"
Programs for Gifted
The report on the gifted will
be announced publicly at the
NEA convention in st. Louis,
opening on June 20. The con-
vention, incidentally. has taken
as its dominant theme quality
in-education. In an exclusive
interview, DR.. Bish outlined the
major findings Of his study. He
was completed one year and
has two more to 60, The study
shows that:
Half the $4,000 high schools
have instituted programs for
the gifted. In the urban areas.
from rs to 80 per cent Of the
high schools have special
courses for superior students.
Many colleges are co-operat-
ing with the high schools in
setting up programs. An esti-
mated 100000 high school
pupils are involved in the spe-
cial programs for the gifted
and talented.
"One Of the most intensive
treasure hunts for talent ever
seen in the United States Is
now under way" DR.. Bish de-
clared.
Many school systems are
doing exceptionally fine work
in established programs for the
gifted. Superior projects are
to be found in New York City,
Cleveland, Detroit; Portland,
Greg; Chicago, Evanston, H.;
San Francisco and Denver.
The program initiated at De-
troit. under direction OF DR..
Samuel Brownell. school super
intendent, has attracted ma
tional attention. Former United
States commissioner Of educa-
ton. DR.. Brownell has for many
years been interested in i'm
proving the education for the
superior student.
The Detroit project is de-
signed to give the gifted and
talented youngsters an oppor-
tunity to expand to their top
capacities. A child may be poor
in English but superior in n.ath.
He is permitted to take special
courses in math and is en-
couraged to work in this area.
Or, the top 3 per cent may
take advanced courses in SCI
ence. English or the foreign
languages. Emphasis is placed
on such extracurricular work
as math or science clubs, spe-
cial work in laboratories after
school or similar academic
achievements. In Detroit, ex-
tracurricular does not neces-
Sarily mean sports or athletics.
Detroit Seeks Talented
Moreover. Detroit has en-
barked upon a long-range study
of the early identification Of
bright children. Starting with
the first grade. the pupils are
tested, and the teachers are
encouraged to work with those
who show exceptional promise.
1t is hoped TO develop methods
or tests that will identify a
bright child as early as the
first grade.
While the high schools are
beginning to seek out the
talented. the colleges and uni
versities also are raising their
sights. With the aid Of a
$685. 900 grant from the Car
negie Corp. a two-year college
study Of the gifted has been
established. An Inter-Univer-
sity Committee on the Superior
Student mas been created,
headed by Prof. J. w. Cohen of
the University of Chicago.
Sixty colleges have estab-
lished "honors programs" for
the gifted. Emphasis is placed
upon independent study. In
some Of the colleges, the tall
ented students are permitted
to work on their own, with a
minimum Of supervision by the
faculty.
Among the colleges and uni
verSitieS with noteworthy
honors plans for the gifted are
Brown, Harvard. Illinois, Indi-
ana. LeAigh. Michigan State.