Average intelligence

>I think some degree of training to increase intelligence is possible, but not to a very large degree normally.

I think you must be alone in that belief. Intelligence as in IQ does not change with education and training.

This was a very interesting documentary that showed how 'average' pupils could get motivated and become more successful and even how 'low' achievers could with imaginative but actually quite sensible methods in the classroom reach higher levels of achievement.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/people_and_places/newsid_9040000/9040086.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00txzwp

The whole subject of the measurement of IQ is open to question and interpretation. If for example someone has recently already taken a specific IQ test and then re-takes it they will often do better the second time. That suggests that IQ and so measured intelligence can be improved through learning. I'd guess there's only so much of an improvement in IQ that can be achieved but I really don't know the answer to that question.

In the UK teachers are required to prepare each lesson in such a way as to fully take into account differentiation - ie. differences in ability between the quickest and the slowest learners in the class. This is not a voluntary matter it is a professional obligation on the teachers and it must be in their written lesson plans.

Patrick,

The documentary I linked to above was showed a public school initially operating a long way from the ideal you describe. By the end of the 'experiment' and after a host of new techniques were introduced that ideal was being met. The school chosen wasn't a failing school. It was picked as an example of the common type of schooling available in the UK.

that should say "in the US it is not fair to give the more intelligent people more attention"

In the UK the government wants 50% of the student population to go to university (college). That means that a significant number of students who are just average go to university. To me that doesn't make sense as the only way in which those average students can get a degree is if the passmark is low or the course is inherently easy and not intellectually demanding. That in turn reduces the perceived value of a degree as it is no longer considered to be a particularly significant achievement. So much for equality - when we are not all equal. Equality of opportunity is one thing but equality of ability right across the population doesn't exist.

There used to be a system of Higher National Certificates and Diplomas, which were issued by technical colledges. It seems that the degree is being mixed up with the European "Batchelor", which at most is/was equivalent to the UK's "Ordinary degree". And the honours to that of the masters.

When I went to university in the UK the kids had A-Levels, obtained after doing O-Levels and specializing as well. I remember meeting a girl from Edinburgh who had "Highers", which she nor anybody else for that matter could explain. She had more highers than the English girls and the latter believed that the highers were somewhere between O levels and A levels. What struck me about all of this was how you sorted out who could do what. I just had to pass an entrance examination and my father just had to cough up the fees. At the end of the first year, and each subsequent year, there was an examination and if you didn't pass that you were "sent down" a colloquial term for being chucked out. When about fifteen years ago I went with our mouse to the UK university which she had enrolled in, I was told that everything was different but without actually understanding how.  I got the impression that they had changed everything so that it would not be so stressful, so if you failed at anything you got lots more chances.  In the end she got a first and so I'm not complaining, but I'm sure that with my grandchildren it will be all different again.

Patrick,

It sounds like the UK is following suit with what the US did.  A Bachelors degree means absolutely nothing now.  Literally, anyone can attend a university now or even community colleges to help earn a degree.  The job market is so flooded with bachelors it's no longer an advantage.  It's even getting to the point where a Master's degree doesn't' mean much either.  What I have noticed is more and more companies are looking for experience rather than degrees now.  I don't blame them at all.  If I owned a business I'd rather have someone who has done the job for four years than someone who just got out of college with a degree that doesn't even teach them how to work.

Not to sound mean, but there are seriously some stupid people that manage to graduate with a bachelor's degree.  They are dumb as a rock and even more worthless than one, but yet they have a piece of paper saying they are qualified by a university to have the knowledge necessary to pursue a certain subject.  It's quite sad how the education system has been dumbed/watered down.  It's not longer an elite system of people who earn a degree, but rather those who can find the money to buy one.

CCSOFlag,

That is remarkably similar to the UK. :((

Patrick

Before you know it you guys will be as dumb as us.  :P

>Not to sound mean, but there are seriously some stupid people that manage to graduate with a bachelor's degree.  They are dumb as a rock and even more worthless than one, but yet they have a piece of paper saying they are qualified by a university to have the knowledge necessary to pursue a certain subject.  It's quite sad how the education system has been dumbed/watered down.  It's not longer an elite system of people who earn a degree, but rather those who can find the money to buy one.

Sadly true. I have had the misfortune to have colleagues who for some unknown reason were taken on by my employers and those people were so stupid as to beggar belief - even though they had degrees. I would appear that a degree is no guarantee that the holder has any intelligence whatsoever.

Attention Contributors!

How would you like this question closed? Equal share of points perhaps - even though they'll be few each - (50/x).

As you see fit is fine with me. [it is hard to split 50 points when there are a number of reasoned contributions.)

Thanks to all for your contributions