Social, physical, emotional, and cognitive developmental rates for gifted children do not correspond to each other and--except for physical development--do not necessarily correspond to age peer norms. Giftedness itself causes asynchrony; that is, it causes children to be out of sync with other components. In the classroom, the teacher is…

Reviews the current theories concerning individual differences in cognitive functioning. While some argue that heredity places a genetic cap on intellectual development, others emphasize the dynamic interrelationship between cultural and environmental factors. Concludes that intelligence is more complex than the heredity advocates allow. (MJP)

Most of the chapters in this book grew out of the Conference on the Academic Performance of Minority Children held at Cornell University in 1982. Six hypotheses about minority school achievement are presented. After a general introduction by Ulric Neisser, John Ogbu describes the effects of caste and argues that black school children are preparing…

Presents a rather obtuse and apologetic defense of "The Bell Curve," claiming that the authors have been wrongfully accused of racist tendencies while admitting the many examples in the book that support the claim. Maintains that the book objectively examines important issues of class, intelligence, and social stratification. (MJP)

The two articles in this newsletter issue focus on and discuss the multiple intelligences (MI) theory and its application in schools. Developed by Howard Gardner at Harvard University, the theory argues that individuals differ in their abilities, learning styles, and interests, and that these differences need to be acknowledged and nurtured in…

This paper explores the reasons for the rapid adoption of intelligence tests by the public schools, and the historical relationship between testing and ability grouping or tracking. Case studies are presented of three California communities--Oakland, San Jose, and Palo Alto--between 1910 and 1925. These communities have been selected because they…

Noting that the collective stories of special education have grown out of a tradition that, by its nature tends to perpetuate problems, this book examines such narratives and how they influence thinking and belief about intelligence and learning. It begins by examining how the current story of intelligence developed and illustrates some of the…

Explores the application of Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences (MI) in developing a community college curriculum that enhances an educator's ability to teach students based upon their dominant intelligences, such as verbal/linguistic or musical/rhythmic. (VWC)