A recent article in Time magazine, "Is Genius Born or Can It
Be Learned?" discusses a new book by Dean Keith Simonton entitled Genius
101: Creators, Leaders, and Prodigies. According to the article, Simonton
believes genius is a product of good genes and good environment. In the
article, this belief is contrasted with Anders Ericsson's belief that genius is
primarily the product of deliberate practice for extended periods of time.
While I find these abstract discussions interesting, some part of me wants to ask why should we as a society care? As the article notes, humanity has attempted to define genius and its causes since antiquity. After all this time, we still are unable to come up with a satisfactory definition of genius or a reliable means of quantifying it. Similarly, its causes are mere conjectures by even our brightest minds.
As a homeschooling mother, I live in the trenches. When I get up tomorrow morning, I will face three children who by both genetics and environment should and appear to have significantly high IQ's. And I will face one question: how am I going to reach each of those boys where they are today to help them eventually reach their full potential as human beings? While the answer changes from child to child, the question remains the same. Furthermore, I would argue that genius, average or otherwise, the question still remains the same.
I don't believe every child is meant to be a brilliant artist or nuclear physicist, but I do believe that every child has something to contribute to the world. I realize my hope that each child gets everything he or she needs to reach his or her full potential, whatever that might be, is a utopian fantasy. I also realize that for some, being identified as unique or gifted opens doors to resources that they genuinely need in this society as it stands now.
Still, I can't help but wonder if we using our energies in a less than productive manner in attempting to define that which can't be defined. Instead of asking how we can create more geniuses as the article mentions, I wonder if our time would be better spent asking how we can help every child reach his or her full potential.
While I find these abstract discussions interesting, some part of me wants to ask why should we as a society care? As the article notes, humanity has attempted to define genius and its causes since antiquity. After all this time, we still are unable to come up with a satisfactory definition of genius or a reliable means of quantifying it. Similarly, its causes are mere conjectures by even our brightest minds.
As a homeschooling mother, I live in the trenches. When I get up tomorrow morning, I will face three children who by both genetics and environment should and appear to have significantly high IQ's. And I will face one question: how am I going to reach each of those boys where they are today to help them eventually reach their full potential as human beings? While the answer changes from child to child, the question remains the same. Furthermore, I would argue that genius, average or otherwise, the question still remains the same.
I don't believe every child is meant to be a brilliant artist or nuclear physicist, but I do believe that every child has something to contribute to the world. I realize my hope that each child gets everything he or she needs to reach his or her full potential, whatever that might be, is a utopian fantasy. I also realize that for some, being identified as unique or gifted opens doors to resources that they genuinely need in this society as it stands now.
Still, I can't help but wonder if we using our energies in a less than productive manner in attempting to define that which can't be defined. Instead of asking how we can create more geniuses as the article mentions, I wonder if our time would be better spent asking how we can help every child reach his or her full potential.
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