Steve sailer reviews a Charles Murray book talking about education. As someone who fancies himself an expert on this topic, I figure I ought to chime in.
The book suggests, it seems, 4 truths that need grappled with in order to do education right.
1. Ability varies.
2. Half of the children are below average.
3. Too many people are going to college.
4. America’s future depends on how we educate the academically gifted.
I have to agree with all 4 points, and then disagree with how this information is used.
My recent pet theory is that
IQ > most stuff for learning
Big 5 Personality + IQ > most stuff for predictions
practice >> Everything else for doing.
However, there's also the evidence in programming that says experience isn't sufficient to predict performance, so I have to be at least mildly cautious around my practice position. And there's some work on CEO performance which seems to support my position.
What does this mean for an education system?
It means we should be focusing on motivation.
1. Discover what is motivating to the individual, and work with that.
2. Teach dilligence, and how to practice as the primary job.
And I've been in favor of Murray's other big deal (tracking) for a long time.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Distinctiveness and Kindness
The background story:
I stink at keeping track of stupid things like, say, train tickets. So last week I bought a 10-ride train pass, because I'd lost my monthly pass (my work badge fell off my belt while shopping...first time in a year). Then...I left my 10-ride on the train. Twice. The first time, I sprinted back onto the train, picked it up, and wove my way through passengers to get out the next car down, before the train left. The second time, I didn't notice until the train left.
Which brings me to the point of the blog post...or the titled point, which is really an aside, but fascinating. I have found, since gradeschool, that it was valuable to be distinctive. If you want to hide in the background, feel free to hide, but that doesn't get you real far in life. Rather, be noticeable. Mostly, in my case, that has led to 2 things....
1. I always dress distinctively. When I was 10, it was shorts. Since 14, it's been long hair, hats, long hair and hats, long hair and suits, hats and shorts in cold weather....something.
2. I don't frequently do the the social behaviors which are purposed to make me blend. Like just listening in a class, rather than asking questions. Some incapability here, some intentionality.
Overall, this has been good, but today it was wonderful.
Today, a man stopped me getting off the train, and asked ... did you lose something on the train last week. I said I'd lost my 10-ride pass, with 3 rides punched. And he produced the ticket, along with a sticky pasted to the front saying: "Cowboy Hat", and an alligator clip holding them together. Most kind/generous thing I've seen in Chicago. I didn't catch his name, and I thanked him sincerely...but I wanted to share the story of people's goodness. And I thought it was interesting that my distinctiveness is what enabled him to return the item.
I stink at keeping track of stupid things like, say, train tickets. So last week I bought a 10-ride train pass, because I'd lost my monthly pass (my work badge fell off my belt while shopping...first time in a year). Then...I left my 10-ride on the train. Twice. The first time, I sprinted back onto the train, picked it up, and wove my way through passengers to get out the next car down, before the train left. The second time, I didn't notice until the train left.
Which brings me to the point of the blog post...or the titled point, which is really an aside, but fascinating. I have found, since gradeschool, that it was valuable to be distinctive. If you want to hide in the background, feel free to hide, but that doesn't get you real far in life. Rather, be noticeable. Mostly, in my case, that has led to 2 things....
1. I always dress distinctively. When I was 10, it was shorts. Since 14, it's been long hair, hats, long hair and hats, long hair and suits, hats and shorts in cold weather....something.
2. I don't frequently do the the social behaviors which are purposed to make me blend. Like just listening in a class, rather than asking questions. Some incapability here, some intentionality.
Overall, this has been good, but today it was wonderful.
Today, a man stopped me getting off the train, and asked ... did you lose something on the train last week. I said I'd lost my 10-ride pass, with 3 rides punched. And he produced the ticket, along with a sticky pasted to the front saying: "Cowboy Hat", and an alligator clip holding them together. Most kind/generous thing I've seen in Chicago. I didn't catch his name, and I thanked him sincerely...but I wanted to share the story of people's goodness. And I thought it was interesting that my distinctiveness is what enabled him to return the item.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
