This deep dive unpacks how Cold War paranoia, psychological profiling, and federal funding built the blueprint for one of education’s most quietly powerful—and possibly sinister—programs.
Well, isn't this just so very, very, interesting. I should point out, here, at the outset, that my elementary school (for me, 1955-1962) was the training school for the local state teachers' training college--and possibly not coincidentally, only about 10 miles from a USAF base--I grew up with the sound of sonic booms. As fifth graders, we all took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (5th grade, 1960-61). I, and I alone, was pulled out of the classroom to take the test again, there having been "some question" about my results. Or so "they" told me. I actually enjoyed doing those tests. (!!) I seem to recall the Iowa test occurring each year, but cannot be sure of that. In 6th grade, there was some big spelling test; I was graded at a 10th grade level. In 1968, high school senior year, I received an NDEA loan, in addition to my college scholarship (which at that time, was indeed a "scholarship", i.e., a grant tied to my academic performance in high school) because I intended to continue my study of two foreign languages. Which loan would be "forgiven" if I chose to teach for x years--which I did. And my three children were in the "gifted program" in their time in public schools.
Well, isn't this just so very, very, interesting. I should point out, here, at the outset, that my elementary school (for me, 1955-1962) was the training school for the local state teachers' training college--and possibly not coincidentally, only about 10 miles from a USAF base--I grew up with the sound of sonic booms. As fifth graders, we all took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (5th grade, 1960-61). I, and I alone, was pulled out of the classroom to take the test again, there having been "some question" about my results. Or so "they" told me. I actually enjoyed doing those tests. (!!) I seem to recall the Iowa test occurring each year, but cannot be sure of that. In 6th grade, there was some big spelling test; I was graded at a 10th grade level. In 1968, high school senior year, I received an NDEA loan, in addition to my college scholarship (which at that time, was indeed a "scholarship", i.e., a grant tied to my academic performance in high school) because I intended to continue my study of two foreign languages. Which loan would be "forgiven" if I chose to teach for x years--which I did. And my three children were in the "gifted program" in their time in public schools.
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