美国的“少年班”何以成立:一种高选拔适度竞争的英才教育路径

How the Education Program for the “Gifted Young” in the United States is Operated: An Elite Education Path with Strict Selection and Moderate Competition

为了培养一流人才,美国的基础教育也存在制度化的超前学习,如中小学'跳级'和顶尖大学里的'少年'学生。约翰·霍普金斯大学的英才教育中心(CTY)是美国典型的甄别和培养早慧学生的中心,也是广受效仿的英才教育标杆机构。通过对该机构精致选才与因材施教的种种具体细节分析,揭示美国的英才教育何以立足并发展的内在逻辑。特别是对照当今中国教育的过度竞争局面,美国系统中存在一个微妙的英才选育侧面,刚性的统考选拔维持适度竞争,强化学习机会与共同体构建,弱化外显的特殊身份等,使其英才的选拔与培养能够在大众化教育系统中获得生存空间。

To cultivate outstanding talents,gifted and talented education programs are implemented in the United States systematically through acceleration,grade skipping,studying in top universities in advance and so on.Center for Talented Youth(CTY)at Johns Hopkins University is a typical center to identify and educate gifted and talented youth in the United States.It is the world leader in gifted education and it is'transplanted'widely by other universities.Through analyzing the details about CTY’s strict selection of Gifted Young and its teaching mode which is in accordance with their aptitude,this paper explains the logic of how this model of gifted and talented education is accepted and develops in the United States.In contrast to the excessive competition of education in China especially,the United States maintains moderate competition by identifying students through above-level standardized tests,intensifies the learning opportunities,builds the learning community and weakens the explicit special identity.Therefore,identification and education of academically gifted and talented youth is compatible with the mass education system in the United States.