Nor are the kids being dumbed down. Although the system isn’t coping with their intelligence, they don’t lose IQ. They may seem to have, because academic achievement need bear no relation to intelligence – academic achievement used to be the ability to pass exams (which had some merit, but if they have a good memory a hard working 90IQ can beat a lazy 140IQ) whereas now it is gained by providing an echo chamber to your teacher/lecturer/supervisor’s opinions. Or by paying for your opinions to be published in places like the BMJ.
The article referenced by Hooky is interesting, and reminds me of Dad’s advice when I started learning to drive. “Treat every other driver on the road as an idiot”. It’s not difficult to extend that to people in general. I might have taken him too literally there, as an employer wrote in a reference for me that “… he does not suffer fools gladly.” Please note that Dad was not saying every on the road is an idiot – just that’s the assumption that will keep you alive. Likewise low IQ doesn’t mean they are a fool; a high IQ person who thinks they know everything is one. It’s important to know your limitations! Plenty of advice in Proverbs, including the instruction never to argue with one.
