Topsy Turvey

In the 1950s and 60s the dumber child fell by the way.  The bright children were streamed into more advanced classes because the view was not to hold back the best and the brightest.  Even a child of 7 knew if he was in ‘dunce’ class.

The mindset was; “if you don’t want to be in dunce class, work hard, get high grades and you’ll go into a higher intellectual level next year.”

‘Special’ schools and ‘Special’ programs were created for the bright child, from skipping 8th grade to having work broken into ‘modules’ that s/he could complete as his/her own pace.

By the 80s so as not to make the child who did no work and couldn’t care less feel bad about himself, there was no more streaming.  So the bright kid is tossed in with those who have no interest in the lesson, and considering reading a comic or talking about last nights episode on television is more interesting than the Protestant Reformation, the bright child becomes as dumb as the rest.

The bright child is ridiculed, called a nerd, left out of all the social functions.  School becomes a torment, so cutting class and trying to fit in with those who take off their shoes to count over ten, diverts a child who might have gone on to….

It is no shock that many young criminals, especially the most successful have very high I.Q.s  They are very bright and had they lived in a different society, were intellect was nourished and encouraged, they wouldn’t be ripping off the system, breaking into people’s houses, stealing planes, and perhaps killing a few people as collateral damage.