Question

Imagine every student is given an IQ test when they enter 4th grade and assigned an IQ score. Students are then placed in a classroom with other students obtaining similar scores. This tracking continues until they graduate from high school. Do you believe this would enhance or have negative effects on the learning environment?  Please explain your response and provide specific examples in your post.

Answer 1

I believe that this practice is likely to have a negative impact on the child's learning. Assigning an IQ score based on which children are categorized for the rest of their school years is akin to assigning a label which then determines the rest of the student's time in school. This can.have dangerous effects because then the child would hold a pre conceived notion about his or her intelligence, thereby having little motivation to work towards it. In turn, this would further be reinforced by parents and teachers. For instance, a child diagnosed with low IQ score may believe that this label defines her ability to learn. She may meet many failures in learning which would then be attributed to IQ score. Because such scores are deterministic in nature, she would give up her attempts easily.