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by Lonesome Dove on August 20th, 2009
Teachers live with this fact on a daily basis. But there is increasing pressure to get all of their students to perform above average, whether the students want to or not.
by norm on August 20th, 2009
Consider the 'bell curve' the high point of the curve represents those of average intelligence, and the low points on both ends represents those of greater or lesser intelligence.
My experience in life has put me in touch with people on both sides of the curve. The well educated can be very smart in their field yet have no 'street smarts'. I have only a high school education, but one of the best compliments I ever got was from a professor friend (PHD) who thought I was very literate.
by Kravenhead on August 20th, 2009
If I had to think in those terms, I'd prefer to think of average as being the middle third.
by katydid15 on August 20th, 2009
Well, yes because average is in the middle. Therefore half are dumber and half are smarter.
by Anonymous on August 20th, 2009
No, I don't really worry about that all that much, except when I encounter them on AB, or on the highways.
+5
by Anonymous on August 20th, 2009
Usually when Im driving or around a wal-mart area.
by Gone. on August 20th, 2009
Never. I don't think I could be so judgemental.
by RysMom on August 20th, 2009
I never thought about it until I had to hire people for a relatively easy job. It was a challenge!
Also when I go into my son's school, I'm shocked at the kids and what they know. It's scary.
by Elfie on August 20th, 2009
Sadly, more often than I'd like. And I'm scared.
by anonymous on August 20th, 2009
Funny. Just makes you wonder if you're in that dumber half or not though, lol, since it's half the population. Most people think more highly of themselves than they should. And being educated or literate is not a true marker of intelligence.
by schmee2369 on August 20th, 2009
Naw cuz they dont bother me.
...do you?
by abby_thats my name.18 on August 20th, 2009
actually ive stopped and thot that way OVER half the people on earth are UNEDUCATED and can therefore not be blamed for being ignorant....
by Marky Mark on August 20th, 2009
Seems to me there is a technical problem with your statement. Shouldn't that be a third of the people? As in: "Dumb", "Average", "Smart"...(assuming that they occur in equal numbers).
by mom3b on August 20th, 2009
have you seen the movie "Idiocracy"?
by Merriment on August 20th, 2009
By who's measurement?
I don't stop to think about it because I don't think it is necessarily true.
by OhLook - IamNoLongerAnonymous on August 20th, 2009
If you thought that you would be wrong. An average does not mean an equal distribution. For example, suppose the following intelligence ratings (on a scale of 1 to 10): 1, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 7, 7, 9, 10. Here the average intelliegnce is a 6, and only 4 people are "dumber than average."
Which word could you put instead of the last word in the sentence:
"Do you realize that much of what you write here is unintelligible?"
by prof. mes solzhenitsy on April 24th, 2011
| 4 people like this
Does the ability to think on your feet indicate intelligence,knowledge or glibness? Can you tell them apart assuming they all make sense?
by RosieGHM Jetpacker on October 14th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Do we have "power to defy selfish genes of our birth ... the selfish memes of our indoctrination?" (Richard Hawkins)
by GibsonGuy on September 23rd, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Timecube, anyone?
by mrinsane7066 on August 16th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
Do child prodigies hold the key to developing inventions and technology which can only be dreamed of?
by NiCkIzBacK on July 14th, 2011
| 1 person likes this
You're reading Do you ever stop and think that half the people in the world are dumber than average?
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Comments
That is impossible! There is no way that EVERYONE can perform ABOVE AVERAGE!
by ExactlyTwentyLetters on August 20th, 2009
lol omg, you can't get all students to perform above average, because that would change the average...go back to school
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
Your missing the goal. Teachers are pressured to get all their students to perform above the state/national average. And yes, any given teacher can achieve that.
by OhLook - IamNoLongerAnonymous on August 20th, 2009
OhLook: But can ALL teachers achieve that?
by ExactlyTwentyLetters on August 20th, 2009
Ah yes, thank you. With a single teacher/class vs. the national average it is possible. It's only impossible if we frame it so that the educational system as a whole is to be above average, and driving all teachers to push for perfection will never 'solve' the problem of failing grade point averages. There will always be a never ending bell curve within the educational system, with people at the back of the pack trying desparately to catch up... When will people learn to just sit still for a while?
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
Exactly: Your question is irrelevant. If a school administrator puts pressure on his or her teachers to be better than the national average, it is irrelevant if all teachers can achieve that. The administrator is responsible for his school (or schools), not the entire nation.
…
You also fail to factor in the time analysis that goes into goal setting. If the average test scores are 67% for a school in 2009, that school may push all teachers to get their students to beat that average. That will raise the average for 2010, but that is the whole point of the push.
by OhLook - IamNoLongerAnonymous on August 20th, 2009
You are absolutely correct in speaking about the individual school teacher and individual administrator(s) ;-)
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
So, those teachers who teach in schools with a large special education population or who face students who come from low income and other challenging backgrounds are looked down upon because they can never reach the "average"...it doesn't sound fair.
by ExactlyTwentyLetters on August 20th, 2009
No, that does not sound fair. But being pushed to succeed may be of some benifit, so long as it done without harsh judgment for any short-comings... We are waaaay off topic here.
My answer to the original question is this: Yes, I think about it
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
Exactly: You are making conclusions on inaccurate facts. What schools are “looking down upon” special education children for not reaching the national average in achievement?
by OhLook - IamNoLongerAnonymous on August 20th, 2009
Am I? I don't know? What schools ARE looking down upon special education children? I thought we were talking about the teachers and admistrators being pressured? yes?
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
I don't know. You have to ask ExactlyTwenty. No schools that I know about are doing so.
by OhLook - IamNoLongerAnonymous on August 20th, 2009
Aren't all schools pushed to reach national standards. Some schools, especially in affluent neighborhoods, have students who have advantages that other less affluent students don't have. And when those less affluent schools fail to meet standards (and less affluent schools usually have a higher LD population) they are "looked down upon" and in some cases they are taken over by the state.
by ExactlyTwentyLetters on August 20th, 2009
Oh ok...cool. It just sounded to me, like for a second, that you were suggesting that the teachers of special needs students were being looked down upon by (who? the government?). If that were the case, i would agree that it's unfair. Anyways, I'm kinda tired of this debate. Whats your main point? Quickly now! I have more questions to answer lol
by ??? on August 20th, 2009
And i just realized that I got confused by talking to two different people as if they were one... lol
by ??? on August 20th, 2009