In Nicholas Kristof’s article below reviewing John Nesbitt’s new book, Intelligence and How to Get It, both authors consider the role IQ and effort has when analyzing Asians, Jews and West Indian-born African Americans. As it turns out, each of the people in these three ethnic groups outperform other ethnic groups and typically white middle class students as well. The people in these ethnic groups aren’t necessarily “smarter” than their counterparts, but because of family support, priority around becoming educated and exposure to more vocabulary at a young age, they get the “most out of the firepower” that they have.
What all students should be taught in school is this basic lesson: Intelligence and academic success are very much a matter of personal choice and is, therefore, a decision that we can make. As my friend Joe Martin, who was raised in the projects and went on to get his Ph.D says: “Your I CAN is a lot more important than IQ.”
New York Times
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
In the mosaic of America, three groups that have been unusually successful are Asian-Americans, Jews and West Indian blacks — and in that there may be some lessons for the rest of us.
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