We Must Help Gifted Students Realize Their Potential

Letter to the Editor

"The Cult of the Child Genius" (Review, May 31) argues that child prodigies need less attention, not more. But this misses the fact that many child prodigies, particularly women, don't get nearly enough encouragement. Programs like those the article criticizes can provide the social support that young female geniuses need. I was identified nationally on receiving high SAT scores at age 12 through a program of the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University. My rural middle school near Scranton, Pa., had few resources for gifted education. My religious community mostly viewed my achievements as improving my odds of marrying a rabbi or wealthy man. Being identified by CTY gave me access to a network of tutors, courses and peers who could encourage my gifts in ways that my public school couldn't. My CTY friends taught me to work hard, develop grit and humility, and tackle social problems. When mean girls bullied me, I had a social network to which I could turn.

Today, I am on the faculty at Harvard, where I research international law and international security. I have contributed to studies of gender in the classroom at Harvard and Princeton, which support the critical importance of early and continued mentoring for bright females. While others should not be excluded from developing their gifts, we will lose too many child prodigies without early attention.

Jill Goldenziel, J.D., Ph.D.