one of the biggest problems with our system of education is that it doesn’t acknowledge that intelligence is a fluid concept that can be measured in more ways than just how well people do on exams
Multiple intelligences are a thing people are aware of. Commonly, exams are given to measure logical/mathematical and linguistic intelligence (standardized testing). It’s logical to do so; you receive questions, you give answers, easy as that. It’s difficult to think of other ways to show proficiency in these areas.
Now, there’s more than just those, obviously. How well you interact with people and yourself, along with thinking in pictures, music, or with your body are other examples of intelligences. Problem is, I’m not exactly sure how you’ll place it in contemporary education nor how you can somehow measure them.
How can we tell someone who is musically or artistically intelligent? Someone who’s more aware of their body, their mind and others’? Is there a way to measure it?
But… I hate to be a pragmatist, but why would it be relevant?
I mean, yeah, we’re always looking at the fact that education is focused solely on language, logic, science, mathematics. We want there to be more arts programs, music, physical education, things that are said to enrich the mind. I wholeheartedly support the increase of the program in all schools! I am a lover of the arts myself.
The question lies in practicality on using them as a measure of progress in school.
School isn’t a measure of intelligence.
It is a measure of how well you retain information given to you and how you process them.
Intra/interpersonal intelligences, kinesthetic, musical, spatial. All of those can do a person well. But how can we use them to measure how well a school has done in preparing a child to do engineering, medicine, physics and research?
Of course, there are those who go into the music, arts, sports, sociology and psychology. Maybe education isn’t relevant to their field, but what we’re given today leaves someone very well rounded for the world of jobs!
… Mind you, I’m sick of people judging one’s “intelligence” based on their literacy and computational skills alone. It’s become quite common that people associate “intelligence” with logic and linguistic skills…
Back to the point, though.
Educational facilities are fully aware of other intelligences; this is why they try to nurture people through offering electives that are so broad. Were they not aware, there would be no seminars, no electives besides those relevant to math, language and sciences, etc.
However, they require a standard to find out someone’s aptitude in…
Well, learning.
They measure what can be measured, but no one should believe they’re unintelligent because they don’t fit this criteria.
I might have missed a point or two or started rambling here and there, so please tell me of anything that might be incorrect!
(Source: shavingryansprivates, via mahiruu)
