The Homeschooler’s Intelligence Quotient is an Irrelevant Quotient
Homeschooling parents often wonder what the significance of their homeschooler’s IQ score really means. In order for homeschooling parents to understand what an IQ score really means in terms of intelligence, they must first understand how an IQ score is determined.
After learning how it is determined, homeschooling parents can then understanding the true meaning of their homeschooler’s IQ score.
Homeschooling parents need to first realize that a test that measures a student’s intelligence quotient focuses on a student’s verbal and mathematical skills. It is a standardized test that has frequently been used to “label” students in the public school setting. Unfortunately, the intelligence quotient tests are often extremely biased and they do not accurately determine an individual’s intelligence.
An IQ test does not accurately define how smart a homeschooler is. Just because a homeschooler may not perform well on an IQ test, it doesn’t mean that they are doomed to a poor existence! The IQ test does not factor in important skills and talents that an individual has and therefore gives a score that is erroneous and incapable of defining ones intelligence. What about a student’s musical abilities or artistic talents? What about a student’s socialization skills and the ability to understand themselves as they interact with the world? Such tests fail miserably to measure a student’s real intelligence because they do not account for a student’s emotional intelligence, nor do such standardized tests account for a homeschooler’s creative abilities. Finally, an IQ test does not factor in a student’s own determination and will to succeed.
Many psychologists lean toward Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences and they also argue that intelligence can not be defined by a single test. Howard Gardner argued the theory that people have several levels of intelligence including Verbal-Linguistic Intelligence, Mathematical-Logical Intelligence, Musical Intelligence, Visual-Spatial Intelligence, Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence, Interpersonal Intelligence, Intrapersonal Intelligence, Naturalist Intelligence, and Existential Intelligence. Further, since the average intelligence test only focuses on the verbal, visual, and mathematical skills of the student, it can hardly be considered an accurate interpretation of a student’s real intelligence level.
Ultimately, the homeschooler’s intelligence quotient is an irrelevant quotient-it means absolutely nothing as far as the student’s overall potential. Parents shouldn’t be overly concerned if their children don’t ace an intelligence exam. After all, even Einstein failed seventh math and was labeled nothing more than an average student.
.About the Author:
Mimi Rothschild is a homeschooling mother, writer, children’s rights advocate, and Founder and C.E.O. of home education company Learning by Grace, Inc. She and her husband of 28 years reside with their 8 children right outside Philadelphia, PA.
Rothschild launched Learning By Grace, Inc. because she believed that our nation’s public school system has failed parents and students. Learning By Grace, Inc. offers online education through a multimedia-rich curriculum to PreK-12 children across the country and throughout the world.
An accomplished author, Rothschild has written books regarding education published by McGraw Hill and others. Her Daily Education News Feed consists of articles and essays dealing with alternative learning methods.
