Should school take IQ test of students before starting, so they can separate smart kids and put them in different classes?

Question

dustybiker2 · Accepted Answer

They started this when I was in school and then stopped it as it was making people feel stupid if put in the lower intelligence classes. The kids just gave up trying.
All stopping it accomplished was encourage lazy teachers to pair smart kids at a table of less intelligent kids and expect them to be taught and learn from their peer. It angered the sharp mind and left the others scattered and falling behind anyway.
It's about when my parents looked for better methods of education... again.
IQ tests themselves have since been shown to be inaccurate ways to measure intelligence. Put anyone in the right environment for each individual and stimulate them and they will flourish. Try and train everyone the same way and you get people who don't.

JustTryingToLife · Accepted Answer

No because people learn differently. Some people don't do well on tests. It doesn't mean they're not smart it just means that they did bad on a test. Also, there are different kind of intelligence and test doesn't highlight all of that. Academics are great and all but it doesn't necessarily tell how smart you are. People learn at different speeds plus there could be other barriers like language, wording, disabilities etc. I think it would just limit kids based on what people can be bothered to teach them.

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

That's how it used to be done, or at least that was part of it. I mean grades ultimately decided which level class we were in, but IQ tests were a starting point - or maybe a goal.

When I was in school we took those tests almost every year. They weren't called IQ tests, but that's what they were.

Then the psychologists came in and fucked everything up. Can't have little Johnny failing a class because he's dumber than dirt. It might hurt his fragile self esteem. Pass him anyway, whether he learns anything or not.

Then 20-30 years later some brilliant person figures out that if you pass kids who don't learn anything, you end up with kids who don't learn anything. Then everyone goes into a panic because students didn't learn anything.

molonski2 · Accepted Answer

I don't like the idea of division , and I'm also not convinced on IQ tests , they work only sometimes , and even then there is usually something super strange about that individual , therefore both groups need each other , some with mid IQs could well be genius in their field , and we see this with all style of disorders , I dont think its a good idea at all.

I have a nephew with Ashbergers ( spelling ) and the worst thing for him was when he was kicked out of standard school , but standard didn't work for him either.

loveslongnails · Answer

Public schools back in the 50's and 60's used to do something like that. If a teacher thought a child had above average intelligence, they would group together into what was known as IGC classes, or "Intellectually Gifted Children". Sometimes there were preliminary tests administered, sometimes not. This would happen as early as first grade, and the kids would stay together in the same classes as they graduated to higher grades.

There was also an option in some middle schools, or junior high schools, to skip a year. This made for some very young high school graduates, with some kids starting college as early as 16 or 17 years of age. What does it tell you about the education system if they readily admit you can do 3 years worth of brainwashing in just 2 years, just for being a bit above average? I believe this is still going on in some version, if not openly then discreetly.

Horse-girl · Answer

I don't think so, it would make the children compare themselves and eachother and I think a bit of healthy competition is good for learning. If you put all the intelligent ones together it might help them but I don't think it'd help the others who aren't as blessed in that department. Also it's good to be around a variety of different people, I think it helps you be more tolerant.

IslaTheWitch · Answer

no... because kids are flexible and not all cleverness translates to IQ... also kids with slightly lower IQ show other qualities and it's good for those smarter to observe and learn them

supercutebutt · Answer

They already do this in the US. We have honors courses and Advanced Placement classes. We also have special classes for the cognitively challenged students called remedial classes.

Surely · Answer

My forth grade teacher divided the class into two math groups. That way we could work at our own pace.. When I took a couple of college courses thirty years later. I had more points than possible because of the extra credit the professor had to give the recent high school graduates!

HighValue · Answer

No because even now schools purposely put dumb/retarded students in classes with regular students. If they had IQ tests they would just mix up the students even more on purpose. It is part of the no child left behind act.

DJB72 · Answer

No. IQ and standardised testing are not related. In fact it's possible to have a genius level IQ and fail all your classes because you're intelligent enough to see through the propaganda and think critically.

Anonymous · Answer

They do this already but with subject specific knowledge rather than IQ. So for example you could have a kid in the advanced math class and the standard reading class. It totally makes sense to ability group the kids so that the instructor can pitch things to the right level for the group without leaving too many (unqualified) kids behind and without boring too many (overqualified) kids.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

They do this in Germany after primary school, into three different forms of secondary school (five, six or nine years).

AviatorTom · Answer

Not an IQ test, but looking at past grades, especially in high school, can be helpful in getting each student into the correct classes.

OfMiceandMen · Answer

I believe smarter children need to be challenged, if they aren't then you create a problem where they become disinterested in school.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

If you don't separate students by their achievement levels, then education must be dumbed down and the brighter students will suffer.

electromagnetic · Answer

Kelly, some of us cheated off the smart kids! 😆

slatyb · Answer

No, they shouldn't. They don't need to do that. They should provide instruction to each student at a level appropriate for that student.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Teacher here. EVERYONE benefits MORE from heterogenous classes. Yes the gifted and special education need diffetent support but in general, diversity is better

XXblack88 · Answer

I thought we already did? at least when I was still in school, we did there were advance classes and for kids below the average iq there was the special ed

GeminiDiamond · Answer

I believe they do that already in some schools. I think they even advance them a grade if they are beyond the school's studies/or recommend a private school.

abc3643 · Answer

They already do that. If you attended public school instead of being home schooled, you'd know this.

HelpfulWoman · Answer

i mean... classes are literally separated by level of learning.

exitseven · Answer

this is what they did when I was in school. In some ways it benefitted the smarter kids. Now everything is dumbed down.

LaurenM1997 · Answer

No I don’t see why people have to be separated if they are in the class they are in keep them there

Bricealan · Answer

That sounds like a good idea to me. We had an IQ test in secondary school.

OtterMan68 · Answer

if you can find an accepted IQ test. Good luck with that

Unit1 · Answer

What's the point? Students graduate and still need training to work at McDonalds 😑

MacDaddyRico · Answer

Yes. Too many times I've heard of children who seemed uninterested or bored and mis-labeled by the system as a trouble child.

jahaims · Answer

They measured all of that with state testing for us.

MrDaveAPSI · Answer

Sounds a little uh, hitlerish, don't you think?

msc545 · Answer

No, that is a misuse of IQ testing that introduces bias.

chrissykerdock · Answer

sounds like a great plan

NathanDavis · Answer

no... that would be stupid to do

normalice · Answer

They basically do that already.

paledreams · Answer

Wish they had in my time lol

Danny_dan92 · Answer

I think this is a good idea

LunarEclipse433 · Answer

Pro and Cons for both but I would be for it

TallAnon · Answer

We basically do that here.

CubaPirate · Answer

Yes please 🙏

eagle1951 · Answer

nooo

Celticwolf78 · Answer

Most definitely

Should school take IQ test of students before starting, so they can separate smart kids and put them in different classes?

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said