Monday, May 21, 2012
"Smart" = more academic than social
I had a conversation with a friend about his experience with school growing up. He was known as "especially smart," being able to teach himself to read at an early age and expressing an interest in college-level math as a pre-teen. During this conversation, "smart/intelligence" was used to measure his academic or "intellectual" ability in comparison to others. (Funny that "intellectual" refers strictly to academics/critical thinking.) This led me to think about how intelligence is also very strictly defined by our culture. Although we consider social and cultural intelligence as valuable, these seem to take second place when people use the term "smart." You can be "street smart" but street isn't redundant here- it has to be used to define smart in another way. Also, football players for example, might be "athletically smart" but people don't define smart any farther when they talk about academics. The stereotype for them is "dumb" at books, and even sometimes "dumb" off the field in general. On the other hand, the kid reading the book is "smart." As you guys were saying, it's interesting that this is very cultural, and other places, like Japan, value social intelligence more.
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Sorry if a part is confusing- "The stereotype for them is "dumb" at books, and even sometimes "dumb" off the field in general" refers to football players.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, our society does value social/cultural intelligence but refers to smart as academic intelligence. I think it's interesting how they all go hand in hand though as having social and cultural capital and being able to activate that social/cultural capital is what promotes our academics, which eventually furthers your social mobility and 'success' in society.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me wonder how a teacher can foster different types of "smart" in the classroom while still helping his/her students along with the academic standards our educational system has put in place. I think it also brings up the question, is it necessary to be smart (in the intellectual sense) to lead a successful life? How does your value compare to others?
ReplyDeleteYes, another hard part of being a teacher! I'm sure that is a challenge to have your own cultural ideas of "smart" (which may be biased or incomplete,) and teach students with their own views. Perhaps there is only so much that you can do as a teacher? (Though you certainly should care.)
ReplyDeleteAnd it is interesting to think about how our culture links "intelligence" with success. I think it is easy to respect people that are successful (in terms of money or reputation)in our culture and overlook other aspects of "success" (which, for a disabled person, could be providing for their family or making a trip to the grocery store every day).
I really want to respond to the question "is it necessary to be smart to lead a successful life"? In my opinion, I don't think it is. I don't think I'm highly intellectual; I don't get the best grades and I don't really excel in every class. However, I think I've still had a very successful college experience and that I will be successful in the future. Perhaps I'm looking at this in a very academic sense so in terms of being intelligent academically, no - you do not to need that to be successful. I do think everyone has their niche in life and in that, they will be intelligent and hopefully successful!
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