Question: classes in the late '70s?

[beatrice_otter]

What would they have called the equivalent of "Talented And Gifted" programs in the US in the late 1970's? You know, the special classes for the smart kids, particularly in math and science? How young would they be available, and what would have been the ratio of girls to boys? I know by the late 1990's, the TAG program (at least in Oregon) was a joke and did pretty much nothing in a lot of schools, mine included, but my Dad was in a program in the 1960's that started when he was in fourth or fifth grade and taught a lot of advanced stuff--math, geology, astronomy, etc.

Bottom line, I want to know what kind of programs would have been available to Sam Carter as a girl, assuming she was born in 1965. As an Air Force brat, she probably moved around a lot. How would that have affected her schooling? I'm assuming she would have gone to a regular school off-base even if she lived on-base some times.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Do you mean for elementary school or for high school? We didn't have a high school TAG program at all - that stopped in 7th grade. All we had in high school was a system of Basic Skills, Generals, College Prep, and Honors level courses - and during my tenure in high school we added AP. Thus, I am no help, except to say that's the way it's been in NJ for all of living memory.

[beatrice_otter]

I wanted to know what was there at all levels. From what I've learned so far, the furor over Sputnik and the Russian space program resulted in various programs to encourage students/push them further in math and science, usually starting in junior high. Such programs were usually done at the school district/city level, and eventually grew from their science backgrounds to include more areas of academics, and morphed into the TAG program. Basically, what that means is that during Carter's school years, I can make up any kind of local program I want. Sweet.

Thanks for the help!

[redbyrd-sgfic.livejournal.com]

A lot probably depends on the size of the school and the wealth of the area. I was in elementary and junior high in the 70s in a not-very-prosperous small town, and I can tell you there were no TAG programs at my school. In junior high, they just took the 20 most advanced math students and put them into algebra in 8th grade. High school classes were heavily tracked (college bound/non-college bound/be thankful if they graduate), but there was no actual program. By the mid-late 80s, there were bare vestiges of it.

Basically, I'd say that you can probably justify anything you want to make the story work, but for that timeframe, Sam is more likely to be be put in more advanced classes with older students. Note that military bases are not necessarily in the best parts of town, so if Sam's in public school, she's likely to have had bad as well as good schools.

Also, most gifted students are not pan-intelligent- Sam's good in math and science, but she might have had trouble in say, English or languages. Especially if she gets bumped grades because of her math proficiency.

[beatrice_otter]

Good points. Thanks!