Intelligence
plays a large role in the lives of millions across the globe. When I typed intelligence
into Google I found a definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. “The
ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situation.” (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligence)
One could be intelligent because he/she has the ability to understand how a car
is taken apart or put back together or because he/she is able to learn a new
skill in gymnastics or a new move in dance, but most would think that intelligence
has to do with math, science or english.
Take the SATs for example. They are
there to test ones intelligence, but there are only three categories that they test;
math, critical reading and writing. They do not even incorporate science. Students
stress out for months because of this one test and if they do not do well they
worry that they won’t get into the college of their dreams. How is it fair that
people are able to judge how intelligent someone is by looking at their SAT scores?
Many students are not comfortable with taking timed tests in a very stressful environment,
that’s does not make them unintelligent, that just makes them human. I believe that SATs scores should not be
looked upon with as much power as they have now. I also believe that there should be a
different form of test to allow students to prove how intelligent they are on a
basis of many things rather than just math writing and possibly science.
Also look at regular IQ tests. They have
a lot to do with number problems and word problems. Sure many should be able to
do simple math problems, but what if one is better with music than math, or
better with communication with others than with a word problem. Researchers and
scientists should find a way too incorporate many different ways of being intelligent
into the IQ tests. There is more to being intelligent than numbers and words
and real intelligent people will find a way to include everything.
T.Boulia
I like your input about SAT scores. The fact that our higher education institutions rely on a standardized test to determine intelligence is bizarre to me. I think there are some students that test really well, and then there are those that do not. The weight that colleges and universities put on these tests is harmful to those students who test poorly. I think intelligence can be more than just the ability to read or write critically, but also creativity or in other ways. I wish that we could do away with standardized tests and find a better way to evaluate intelligence. -Shane Murphy
ReplyDeleteI agree entirely about the three sections being the only thing that judges our intelligence. I said the same thing in my blog.
ReplyDelete-Clifford McKeon