These were not regular hearing tests, but something some students were pulled from class to participate in and had no bearing on disabilities or challenges, intelligence levels or behavioral problems. They seemed focused on something else.
Most focus on the activities of the 80's and 90's but the roots of the process began much earlier. As part of my ongoing research, I have heard from several people who were in schools in the early 1960's (1960 - 1968) and slivers of memory from these are very similar to the form and structure of the later tests.
A memory of being taken from the class, into a small office or empty class, where cards (similar to ink blots) were given.
A place where ESP test type cards were used or/and where hearing tests were given with metal banded earphones and large reel-to-reel tape players or a record turntable, and similar short tests or questions.
Sometimes projectors were used but showing only odd or grainy images. Usually, a stranger was the one giving these tests or administering the situation. No familiar faces.
Of special note: An emerging trend in all these situations (from the 1960's and forward) are the large numbers of students whose parents worked for the government - either as military members or working for some sub-contracted agency or service (aerospace, USPS, etc.)
Through the National Education Act of 1958, schools could get funds my reporting how many students they had fit that profile. Cards were sent home and parents had to complete them and send them back. There were many "strings" to getting and using those federal dollars. A loyalty card reflected the lingering fears of the McCarthy Era (now merging with a fear of the Soviets). As well, this testing activity happened right in the middle of the growing 'Military-Industrial" complex that exiting President Eisenhower warned about.
Secrets, tests, MK-Ultra, research into mind development, intelligence building and more were the hot ticket of the day. The UFO issue. The space race, the Cold War, and so much more....
The question is, did these events use children of government workers to provide a ready-made testing pool - easily regulated and monitored - for research into brain extrasensory powers, hidden skills, and developing intelligence?
A search produced this information culled from various sources (subject to verification but interesting none the less):
"By the late 1950s, the National Defense Education Act (NDEA) of 1958 pushed for restructuring schools to meet Cold War science and math demands, with a focus on the “native ability” of students JSTOR Daily. This led to the expansion of advance placement, college prep, and enrichment programs for the top 15–20% of students, often identified by IQ tests.
Program Structure and Methods
In the 1960s, GATE programs varied widely by state and district. Common approaches included:
Enrichment: Adding depth to the standard curriculum, such as advanced reading, science projects, or specialized electives ,Wikipedia.
Acceleration: Skipping grades or using accelerated curricula to move gifted students ahead .Wikipedia.
Cluster grouping: Small groups of high-achieving students in a single classroom for the day .Wikipedia.
Special classes: Some schools offered weekly or occasional “gifted” sessions with tailored instruction. www.pipr.co.uk.
Identification and Testing
Most programs used IQ tests (e.g., Stanford-Binet) to identify students, though some avoided testing, focusing instead on teacher recommendations or creative assessments www.pipr.co.uk. The top 2–3% were often targeted as “gifted,” while the next tier (top 15%) were considered “academically talented”, JSTOR Daily.
Social and Political Dimensions
By the 1960s, IQ-based gifted programs were increasingly seen as a way to separate students by ability rather than race, a shift from earlier eugenicist ideas JSTOR Daily. However, these programs were often dominated by white, affluent students, reflecting broader educational inequities ,JSTOR Daily.
Innovations and Controversies
Some proposals, like Admiral Hyman Rickover’s vision for “free secondary academic schools” for the top 15–20% of students, emphasized science, math, and engineering, with teachers specializing in their fields CIA. While not widely implemented, such ideas influenced later GATE and STEM-focused programs.
Summary
In the 1960s, GATE programs were still experimental, blending enrichment, acceleration, and specialized instruction. They were driven by Cold War science goals, psychological research, and a growing belief in the need to nurture high-achieving students separately. While they offered opportunities for some, they also reflected and reinforced existing educational inequalities."
CONTACT FORM: Use the contact form on this page and let me know....Did you have an experience similar to this in the 1960's. 1970's, 1980's, or 1990's? Importantly, did your parents work for the military, government or an entity doing contract work for the government?
Learn More:
THE GATEWAY PROGRAM https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R001700270006-0.pdf
G.A.T.E.-gate: US Intelligence Secretly Brainwashed Thousands of “Gifted” Children? | PIPR https://www.pipr.co.uk/g-a-t-e-gate-us-intelligence-secretly-brainwashed-thousands-of-gifted-children/
CIA's Secret GATE Program: Veteran Exposes Psionic | Vetted
