{"id":3600311,"date":"2014-11-01T11:28:14","date_gmt":"2014-11-01T11:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/time.com\/?p=3600311"},"modified":"2020-01-16T16:47:27","modified_gmt":"2020-01-16T16:47:27","slug":"life-goes-to-genius-school-1948","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.life.com\/lifestyle\/life-goes-to-genius-school-1948\/","title":{"rendered":"LIFE Goes to a School For Kid Geniuses, 1948"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Americans are on a never-ending quest for the best way to educate their children, trying different approaches to teaching, and sometimes different kinds of schools. Seven decades ago, LIFE visited what might be called a genius school at Hunter College\u2014a school filled 450 apparently well-adjusted, engaged kids from ages three to 11, who just happened to enjoy IQs <em>averaging<\/em> around 150. (Post-graduate students, by comparison, generally fall in the 120-130 range.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As LIFE noted in a March 1948 feature on the school:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p> The school they go to is P.S. 600, part of New York&#8217;s public-school system and the only institution in the U.S. devoted entirely to the teaching and study of gifted children. It is held in a wing of the college&#8217;s main building, in whose long corridors the bright little kids from 3 to 11 years old like to stop off for between-class chats. <br> Offhand, young geniuses would seem to present no immediate problems because they are usually bigger, healthier and even happier than average children. However, an educational problem exists simply because they are too bright for their age. If they are promoted rapidly through school on the basis of their studies they will end up as social misfits, unable to enjoy the society of children their own age. On the other hand, if they are held back with their own age group, their quick minds are apt to stagnate. <br> Hunter children know they are smart, but they are more humble than cocky about their intelligence. . . . Although their interest are advanced, their plans for the future have a refreshing normality. There is a 9-year-old who wants to be a fur trapper, an 8-year-old who wants to be a babysitter and a 7-year-old who wants to be president of the Coca-Cola Company. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Here, LIFE.com presents photos from the feature in the magazine, as well as pictures that never ran in LIFE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Liz Ronk edited this gallery for LIFE.com<\/em>. Follow her on Twitter at <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LizabethRonk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@LizabethRonk<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600314\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600314 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Sandy, 7, lectures science club on hobby, explains behavior of neutrons in uranium. Diagram was left by previous lecturer, a chemist.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Sandy, 7, lectured the science club on the behavior of neutrons in uranium. The diagram was left by the previous lecturer, a chemist.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-01-839x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Sandy, 7, lectured the science club on the behavior of neutrons in uranium. The diagram was left by the previous lecturer, a chemist.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600315\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600315 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-02-1018x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">A public &#8220;genius school&#8221; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#8217;s Hunter College, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600316\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600316 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-03-813x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600317\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600317 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-04-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600318\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600318 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-05-831x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600319\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600319 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. A study of time is made by 6-year-olds. Addressing class, Lucy (standing, left) tells what she found out in library about old-fashioned candle clocks as her remarks are copied on the blackboard with other students&#039; observations. The students are critical of each other&#039;s work and often double check in the library.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"A study of time was made by 6-year-olds. Addressing the class, Lucy (standing, left) told what she found out in the library about old-fashioned candle clocks, and her remarks were copied on the blackboard with other students&#039; observations. The students were critical of each other&#039;s work.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-06-1024x907.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">A study of time was made by 6-year-olds. Addressing the class, Lucy (standing, left) told what she found out in the library about old-fashioned candle clocks, and her remarks were copied on the blackboard with other students&#8217; observations. The students were critical of each other&#8217;s work.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600320\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600320 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Building with blocks, instead of aimlessly stacking them, 4-year-olds work together to construct an apartment building with doormen, tenants and garage.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Building with blocks, instead of aimlessly stacking them, four-year-olds worked together to construct an apartment building with doormen, tenants and a garage.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-07-844x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Building with blocks, instead of aimlessly stacking them, four-year-olds worked together to construct an apartment building with doormen, tenants and a garage.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600321\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600321 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-08-808x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600322\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600322 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-09-1021x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600323\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600323 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Little Roy spins a yarn for friends.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Roy spun a yarn for his friends.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-10a-914x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Roy spun a yarn for his friends.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600324\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600324 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Little Roy spins a yarn for friends.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Roy spun a yarn for friends.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-10b-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Roy spun a yarn for friends.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600325\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600325 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Little Roy spins a yarn for friends.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Roy spun a yarn for friends.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-10c-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Roy spun a yarn for friends.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600326\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600326 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Little Roy spins a yarn for friends.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Roy spun a yarn for friends.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-10d-934x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Roy spun a yarn for friends.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600327\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600327 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Playing chess, David (wearing glasses) moves a piece for Lennie. Both are 7 and a half. David learned the game from his father, then he taught Lennie how to play.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Playing chess, David (wearing glasses) moved a piece for Lennie. Both are seven and a half. David learned the game from his father, then he taught Lennie how to play.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-11-808x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Playing chess, David (wearing glasses) moved a piece for Lennie. Both are seven and a half. David learned the game from his father, then he taught Lennie how to play.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600328\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600328 desc=\"Caption from LIFE Directing orchestra, 10-year-old girl gets a lesson in conducting from teacher. Students also have a choral society. Three-year-olds have rhythm bands.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Directing the orchestra, a 10-year-old girl received a lesson in conducting from the teacher. Students also had a choral society. Three-year-olds had rhythm bands.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-12-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Directing the orchestra, a 10-year-old girl received a lesson in conducting from the teacher. Students also had a choral society. Three-year-olds had rhythm bands.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600329\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600329 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-13-1005x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600331\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600331 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-14-802x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600332\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600332 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-15a-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600333\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600333 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-15b-1021x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600334\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600334 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-15c-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600335\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600335 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-15d-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600336\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600336 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Ralph, 11, likes to study human skull. He plans to become a doctor.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Ralph, 11, planned to become a doctor.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-16-734x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Ralph, 11, planned to become a doctor.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600337\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600337 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Practical conversation in French by 9-year-olds. Here waiter asks gentleman to approve the wine, as lady consults French menu.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"In a class in practical conversation in French for nine-year-olds, a waiter asked gentleman to approve the wine, as the lady consulted the French menu.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-17-843x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">In a class in practical conversation in French for nine-year-olds, a waiter asked gentleman to approve the wine, as the lady consulted the French menu.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600338\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600338 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Smart new hairdo is designed by two little 5-year-olds, Joan (left) and Florence. They also like to make candy and cookies in the school&#039;s miniature kitchen.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"This hairdo was designed by two five-year-olds, Joan (left) and Florence. They also liked to make candy and cookies in the school&#039;s miniature kitchen.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-18-843x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">This hairdo was designed by two five-year-olds, Joan (left) and Florence. They also liked to make candy and cookies in the school&#8217;s miniature kitchen.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600339\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600339 desc=\"A public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Genius school, 1948.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-19-834x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Genius school, 1948.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600340\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600340 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. Taking book from library, 5-year-old Johnny, who taught himself to read, selects &lt;em&gt;The Ring of the Nibelung&lt;\/em&gt;, which looks interesting to him. Library has wide choice of simpler books like the Bobbsey Twins, but bright children tire of these quickly, abandon them in favor of poetry, biography, science and politics.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"Five-year-old Johnny, who taught himself to read, took from the library The Ring of the Nibelung. The library also included simpler books like the Bobbsey Twins.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-20-905x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Five-year-old Johnny, who taught himself to read, took from the library The Ring of the Nibelung. The library also included simpler books like the Bobbsey Twins.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<blockquote id=\"single-block_3600341\" class=\"single-image \">\n    <section>\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" data=\"block-image\" data-id=3600341 desc=\"Caption from LIFE. In a hallway of New York&#039;s Hunter College two 3-year-olds stop to talk. Little girl carries poster inviting students to see the latest block exhibit.\" caption=\"Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock\" title=\"In a hallway of New York&#039;s Hunter College, two three-year-olds stopped to talk. The little girl carried a poster inviting students to see the latest block exhibit.\" src=\"https:\/\/static.life.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated\/2014\/11\/141121-genius-school-21-826x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Photo from a public &quot;genius school&quot; for 3-to-11-year-olds at New York&#039;s Hunter College, 1948.\" \/>\n                <div class=\"image-info\">\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">In a hallway of New York&#8217;s Hunter College, two three-year-olds stopped to talk. The little girl carried a poster inviting students to see the latest block exhibit.<\/p>\n            <p class=\"image-caption\">Nina Leen The LIFE Picture Collection\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the 1940s, LIFE visited a &#8216;genius school&#8217; in New York &#8212; a school filled with kids who just happened to enjoy stratospheric IQs<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31476327,"featured_media":3600341,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,26],"tags":[532,719,850,44,1228,1453,1455,1456,1562],"class_list":["post-3600311","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-history","category-lifestyle","tag-curiosities","tag-genius","tag-hunter-college","tag-new-york-city","tag-nina-leen","tag-school","tag-schoolchildren","tag-schoolkids","tag-students"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Photos From a New York City &#039;Genius School,&#039; 1948<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the 1940s, LIFE visited a &#039;genius school&#039; in New York -- a school filled with kids who just happened to enjoy stratospheric IQs\" \/>\n<meta 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