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Alfred Binet - Intellectual Test Developed
French psychologist Alfred Binet is hired by the government to develop a test to identify children of inferior intelligence for the purpose of placing them in special classes. This was the first intelligence test which showed an intellectual age in a single numerical outcome and helped us to put a concrete value on the giftedness of a person, thus understanding it better. -
"Genetic Studies of Genius" by Lewis Terman
Lewis Terman launches a study of over 1,500 gifted children which is the oldest and longest running study in the world. Terman set out to show that gifted children were not abnormal or unhealthy as previously imagined. In fact, his study showed that gifted children are usually well adjusted and successful. He showed that gifted students who were permitted to advance in school were more successful than those who remained in the regular classroom. He is known as the "father of gifted education". -
Leta Hollingworth begins Special Opportunity Class
In 1922 Leta Hollingworth began her Special Opportunity Class at P.S. 165 for gifted students in New York City. This class was the basis for over 35 research articles, the first gifted education textbook and the blueprint for other gifted schools and classes. Leta Hollingworth is often referred to as the "mother of gifted education". -
Marland Report
Sidney Marland was a member of a committee to study gifted education that was established by Lyndon Johnson & Richard Nixon. He reported that the state of gifted education needed repair - there was no funding, a lack of guidelines and teachers were not trained to educate gifted students. His report was fundamental in getting government funding for gifted education
