The Genius School that was… New York, 1940s
Every so often, the media jumps on a story about gifted children. Detailing their seemingly innate gifts and abilities, debating the parental challenges and questioning seemingly complicated journeys through ‘normal’ school-life.
Imagine then a school dedicated completely to the teaching and learning of children, whose average IQ stands at 150.
In March 1948, Life Magazine featured just such as school. Hunter College in New York catered specifically to these high aptitude children, aged between 3 to 11. In a recently released set of photos (that did not make it to the final article), one sees how these prodigious children seem so at ease with their interests, traits and talents.
The photos, all in stark black and white photography, portrays cold, high-celinged hallways where children, as young as 3, stop to chat with each other.
One would be forgiven for thinking that all these scenes were set-up, apart from the fact that as you work through the photos (see all the photos here), all the children seem completely at ease and look so natural in their surroundings.
I personally would love to know where the children went after Hunter College, and even more interesting would be how did these children turn out?
Read the original Life Magazine here.
Author: Li-ling, tweets as DrOoi and is passionate about all things learning.
Don’t forget to rate the article
