IQ Consideration With Core Curriculum

by Celeste Ancar
(Belle Chasse, Louisiana)

School systems all over the US should embrace the fact that IQ can give information about the mental ability of students. If they did, maybe they would not put such unrealistic demands on teachers and students.

Schools are rated according to the scores students achieve on standardized test. Scores are expected to rise every year, not taking into account the mental ability of the students. Teachers are expected to teach a high core curriculum to all students. This is just crazy. What happens to the students who cannot achieve those high expectations? It frustrates them. They experience failure often. Good teachers are leaving the profession because they can't stand what this is doing to the children.

I have a master's degree in counseling. I see more & more unhappy school children; more & more unhappy teachers; more discipline problems.

I understand we have to keep up with the technology in the world. But everyone in OUR society should not be forced to achieve at the same level. Asians and Japanese, for instance, do not have the same culture as most American children. Therefore, there focus are not the same. Their experiences are not the same. Their school systems are not the same.

I'm not saying we don't need change. I'm saying these "intellectual individuals" making the changes should remember what type of education they received and did it have anything to do with crushing their self-esteem? Do they know someone who did poor in school but are now successful citizens? Change is needed but I'm not sure they understand the ramifications of their decisions.