For ‘The Atlantic's’ December issue cover story, contributing writer David Brooks argues that the nation's top schools are trapped in an outdated meritocracy system that needs to be redefined. LINK
My thoughts:
I believe David Brooks is missing the mark, yet this will be the cover story for The Atlantic’s December issue. After listening to his commentary, I have several observations:
David’s commentary:
James Cannon didn't have the right definition of human ability. For him, it was all IQ and IQ is important if you want to be an astrophysicist, it is probably important to have a high IQ but other things are more important, being curious, having a passionate drive, being a good team member, agility, knowing how to move in life so it's you're graceful toward other people. All these traits which were hard to measure got lopped off and so we not only created these Elites, this inherited cast system but it's not that competent because it doesn't select based on the real skills in society.
My thoughts:
The current educational system often stifles curiosity. Children eager to explore how sounds form words, like “buh ah tuh” for “bat,” or “geh eh tuh” for "get" disengage when faced with this incorrect phonetic instruction. This disengagement can lead to misclassification as dyslexic and result in illiteracy upon leaving school. LINK
Consider David Chalk, who achieved significant success despite not learning to read until age 62. LINK
Similarly, Darren Clark, Director of Succeed with Dyslexia, has thrived professionally despite not completing his formal schooling. LINK
John Corcoran taught for 17 years without being able to read. LINK
Tom Cruise was a functional illiterate when he left school. LINK
My student Chan Tze Xin who recently graduated from a Medical College is another example. LINK
Many individuals who could have been inventors or scientists have been misclassified as dyslexic and left school without the skills they needed. These are the curious kids who shut down/disengage from learning to read due to confusion. They shut down when they are unable to blend consonants with extraneous sounds and are wrongly classified as dyslexic.
How many such kids went to vocational schools, became artists, skilled tradesmen, etc. when they could have been inventors and scientists if they had not shut down and wrongly classified as dyslexics?
Singapore consistently ranks first in PISA exams, with dyslexia rates between 3.5% and 10%. In contrast, the dyslexia rates in other English-speaking countries range from 10% to 20%. This discrepancy raises questions about how many dyslexic students in other countries are left behind while those in Singapore succeed. LINK, LINK, LINK
David’s commentary:
The Terman Study: At minute 7:45, Brooks references the Terman Study, which followed exceptionally intelligent individuals who became successful professionals. However, none were labelled geniuses or particularly creative.
This raises the question: why? It seems that the educational system is suppressing creative thinkers with all the qualities mentioned by David above.
Those with vested interests have ensured that the creative questioning kids leave school as illiterates by allowing TV programmes such as Charlie and the Alphabet to be broadcast in more than 100 countries. LINK.
David’s commentary:
At minute 10.45, the interviewer asked: Let's take David Brooks's idea and run its course here next year. The admissions counsellors at the top 25 schools want to say all right how do I implement this right if I want to deemphasize the IQ or the test score. I want to start measuring for these things that Brooks is outlining. Courage and grid and a sense of purpose and you know how good of a teammate you are so how do we start to think about restructuring the system and measuring appropriately?
My thoughts:
They can’t do it. They can’t measure those things that David Brooks is asking to measure because those with those qualities have left school as functional illiterates.
David’s commentary:
At minute 16.15 the interviewer said: You wrote ‘‘We want a society run by people who are smart yes but who are also wise, perceptive, curious, caring, resilient, and committed to the common good’’ I wonder in America in 2024 is that something we can tilt toward because the cultural forces all seem aligned toward an idea of everyone for themselves and it didn't just happen overnight.
My thoughts:
This is not possible because the wise and curious leave school as illiterates.
I have reached out to David Brooks via email and commented on his social media posts. I hope to engage in a discussion about these critical issues.
My comments on YouTube.
@LuqmanMichel (22.11.24)
The Terman study. None of them were geniuses or creative. Why not? The big boys ensured they shut down from learning to read. They don’t want these geniuses to question them in the things they do. Let's discuss this.
'but who are also wise perceptive curious caring resilient and committed to the common good' - You will not find them as they leave school as illiterates. The system ensures that. If you seriously want to find these people let us discuss this. Google search my name.
@LuqmanMichel (26.11.24)
"The Terman Study looked at super smart people over their lifetimes and they did fine they were doctors and lawyers. These are like the top 1% but none of them were Geniuses and none of them were creative. "
The Geniuses and creative guys have been flushed out as 'dyslexic'. Google my name, Luqman Michel, and check out my last few posts on this matter.
David Brooke, let us discuss this.
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