Hmm, this is another interesting piece. The title begs a question: why does intelligence have to be for something? and the author’s position and gripes about not being able to find a job that adequately uses their talents is, I think, indicative of a belief that the world should be so structured as to put the most intelligent (flirting with the taboo IQ they are i see) at the end of the lever furthest from the fulcrum? because they would do a good job? as an anarchist, i roundly disagree.
maybe i can get to the same point another way around. i know lots and lots of people, and i think we are all about as intelligent as each other. i don’t think intelligence is this particularly special attribute, and i think having a successful (minimising the amount of suffering) society requires us all doing our bit, including us less clever people.
anyway. rant over.
so though i disagree with the premise that “it is important to treat intelligent children in such a way that they grow up to be fulfilled adults who use their talents to positively impact the world”. i would break it up into two “it is important to treat intelligent children in such a way as they grow up untraumatised and prepared to flourish” and “it is important for all people to have opportunities to use their talents to positively impact the world”. its about agency! that’s the thing we need to give to children, when they depend on us, and the thing we need to seize for ourselves, as adults.
i think they did a good job illustrating the central “paradox” of the “gifted child”:
- a gifted child will find it hard to relate to their peers, and act appropriately for their developmental stage, and this can cause problems
- specialist ‘gifted’ education programs can be really harmful if they isolate a child from their peers
and i agree with conclusion that the important thing is creating cohorts of gifted children who can pursue advanced education together!
it is interesting how gifted children-ness just doesn’t exist in the UK. was i a gifted child, if i had been in america? possibly? how does this all depend on parental resources?
Simon’s Rock College seems like an interesting place. the fact that its logo is the hemlock leaf is fascinating, since it is the poison Socrates took rather than face exile for corrupting the youth with his ideas, his questions. but “is it the best use of the intellect to ask forbidden questions, especially when those questions lead to your own entirely predictable self-destruction?”. hmm. probably not, but also i support the right of people to do silly things that i don’t agree with, as long as they aren’t hurting other people.
this piece was also a good description of growing up being institutionalised. i really don’t understand why/how we section people. it is in no universe the best option. okay that’s enough of this. i don’t think im being coherent. have a nice day!