tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post2120144927723144087..comments2024-01-30T05:25:56.085-07:00Comments on A Teacher's View: Poverty Mattersmmazenkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06602797515366983639noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post-43516723295774303082011-01-11T08:24:57.672-07:002011-01-11T08:24:57.672-07:00Yes, but the emphasis on nature runs a little too ...Yes, but the emphasis on nature runs a little too close to a Dickensian argument that the poor are poor and their kids stay poor because they are genetically inferior. If you are in education long enough, you can see the completely average wealthy kids who have greater access because of environment, as well as the truly brilliant poor kids who never get the chance. Certainly, DNA matters, as I tell my kids all the time, some are not smart enough to be "A" writers or skilled enough to make first violin in the orchestra. But poverty and environment matter a great deal more than many will admit.mmazenkohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06602797515366983639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1550222691875074441.post-60796392828779363982011-01-11T07:45:47.744-07:002011-01-11T07:45:47.744-07:00We're testing 2 year-old's here? I'm ...We're testing 2 year-old's here? I'm not sure how much stock to put in such things. Longer-term studies show that "nurture" loses to "nature" every time and that the predominance of "nature" becomes stronger as we age. We are our genes.<br /><br />A review of studies that I saw found 50% of the difference in intelligence in adults was due to genetics, 30% to in-utero effects, and 20% to environment. I was really surprised by this.<br /><br />I'm not saying that we shouldn't address poverty. I'm just saying that we shouldn't read too much into such a study that (perhaps) is showing what it wants to show.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com