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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE
Bureau of Elementary and
Secondary Education
Mrs. Marie Friedel, Executive Director
Dear Mrs. Friedel:
Thank you for your letter of June 21 to Commissioner Howe concerning
the education of gifted children. I have been asked to respond to
your request for information.
May I assure you that there is a genuine if somewhat quiescent concern
in our office for the identification and effective nurture of gifted
children. As you so well point out we are not adequately using the in-
formation we now have about the characteristics and needs of the gifted.
The issue then is one of effective action.
Present federal legislation makes it possible for schools and school sys-
tems to use federal funds to develop and implement programs for the gifted.
Titles l, ll, and 111 of Public Law 89-10 ("Elementary and Secondary Ed-
ucation Act of 1965") provide financial assistance for the education of
children of low-income families, for school library resources, and for
supplementary educational centers and services. Schools may under these
titles make specific provisions for gifted children. Such programs, how-
ever, must compete for funds with all other educational efforts in these
areas of concern. No federal legislation provides categorically for
the gifted.
As you are well aware there are many kinds and levels of giftedness. For
the moderately gifted many schools in our nation are providing reasonably
adequate educational programs Highly gifted children on the other hand
present a special problem which requires attention to each individual
child and to his or her specific capacities and needs. The highly gifted
child needs to relate to his peers socially, psychologically and in terms
of his physical growth. In addition he requires a rich and stimulating
environment which will encourage and enable him to develop his special
skills. Schools can provide the former and hopefully can contribute to
the latter. The home too can make a real contribution to such an environ-
ment when parents are informed and concerned.
I recognize the frustrations and at times heart break you face in your
efforts in behalf of the gifted. Apparently there are no easy solutions.
You are aware of some of the private efforts --such as you and Ann Isaacs
are making --and private schools dedicated to this purpose. TAG, (The
Association for the Gifted) an affiliate of the National Education Asso-
ciation, provides a professional forurm. I am sorry I can't provide you
with any definitive answers. I do hope you continue in your efforts.
Sincerely yours,
J.Ned Bryan, Educational Specialist |
