Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-12
Lower Grades
Gifted Student
Plan Sought.
Two Main Levels
Proposed; Board
To Get Program

sen announced today he is rec
ommending a specialized pro-
gram for gifted students in the
elementary grades which he
hopes may start next fall.
The program includes divi-
sion of students in all elemen-
tary grades into two main
achievement levels: A general
curriculum and a basic curric-
ulum, for slower learners, both
to start at the first grade level
and to continue through the
18th grades.
Starting at the fourth grade,
an honors curriculum would be
introduced for the gifted stu
dents which would run through
the 18th grade.
Or. Hansen said that the plan
Is an extension Of the trend
towards focusing greater at
tention on the gifted pupil
which has already produced a.
four-track honors system in
the high schools organized on
achievement abilities.
Submission Due Monday
The plan is to be submitted
on Monday to the school boards
Committee on Health and Spe-
cial Education services. If the
committee then approves the
plan it would go to the board
for its consideration at a meet
ing later this month. Should
final approval follow the plan
can be put into effect at the
start of the school year this
fall. DR.. Hansen said.
| Meanwhile. DR.. Hansen
noted, preparations are being
made now. This afternoon an
orientation meeting on the
lgifted student program is to be
held at the Shepperd School
where about rs teachers and
IS principals of elementary
schools will be briefed on the
proposed courses.
DR.. Hansen added that an
"inservice program" for the
Especial training of teachers to
handle the gifted students is
also planned. These teachers
are to be trained by the school
principals.
Program Flexible
| DR.. Hansen emphasized that
the program for slower stu
dents is flexible" so that up
on improvement these students
then may be transferred TO
courses under the general cur
riculum. The number Of stu
dents expected to enter the
basic study category would be
somewhat in excess Of the
2,400 students now being
taught in special elementary
classes for atypical and over
age children.
At present about 1000 are
being considered for the gifted
child program in the elemen-
tary schools. the study showed.
DR.. Hansen's report pointed
out that not all the gifted chill
dren will be placed in honors
classes. Some will be given
favorable placement with more
advanced students in the regu-
lar grades" the report said.
For some. special programs
will be developed by the timer
ant teachers in music, art and
science"
Geography Considered
The honors classes, DR.. Han
sen said, will be geographically
located TO serve the greatest
number of gifted students in
various areas Of the city.
School officials have been
planning the gifted student
program for elementary and
junior high school levels for
the last three years, DR.. Han
sen said. He noted that an
experimental project has been
conducted this current school
year among seventh grade
students.
The establishment Of a
special level for slower students
Twill be beneficial, DR.. Hansen
declared, because 1t will re-
suit in greater stress on the
basic SkillS."
| He added it will also mean
lgreater fiexibility in the edu-
cation program. improve re-
medal work, and provide a
continuous development Of
slower students throughout
their school years consistent
with their characteristics"