Note 4 — PART I[1] AN OUTLINE OF THE EXPERIMENT
Reading edition
When the disadvantages of “pushing” children are discussed, the disadvantages of keeping children at their chronological age levels should be considered as well. Although it is true that a supernormal child placed in that grade for which he is mentally equipped loses much in social contact, it is also true that he loses a great deal by remaining in the grade where he physiologically belongs. There he develops habits of conceit, indolence, and carelessness. It is in all cases much better to group intelligent children and enrich the curriculum than to “push” them; but pushing may be better than leaving them where they belong by age. It is a possibility worth considering that the explanation of the “peculiarities” of genius lies in the fact that he has never associated with equals. When his fellows are mentally his equals they are physically far older and when they are physically his equals they are mentally inferior.