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MAY/JUN 2012 ■ EDUCATION UPDATE ■ COLLEGES & GRADuate Schools 27Michigan Professor Speaksat Rockefeller University onImproving Children’s IQby Sybil MaiminAn overflow crowd of eager parents and educatorsfilled the auditorium at Rockefeller Universityto hear Richard E. Nesbitt, Ph.D., share his latestfindings on “Intelligence and How to Get It: WhySchools and Culture Count.” A psychologistand Distinguished University Professor at theUniversity of Michigan, Dr. Nesbitt is determinedto reverse the commonly held but controversialview, put forth by Charles Murray and Richard J.Herrnstein in their 1994 book “The Bell Curve,”that IQ Is determined by genes. Countering“hereditarism” with the new “environmentalism,”Nesbitt presented evidence that nonhereditaryfactors, such as education, parenting, culture, anda range of interventions play a huge role in determininga child’s IQ. Acknowledging that geneticshave some influence, he explained that much canbe done to modify and raise intelligence scores.Environmental factors are numerous. While alarge gap exists between white- and African-American student scores, the difference is shrinkingas schools do a better job of teaching. Theoft-cited abilities of Asian and Jewish studentscan be attributed to cultures that emphasize hardwork and achievement. And, studies of twinsseparated by adoption but exhibiting similar IQscan be linked to the general similarity of adoptivehomes--affluent and stimulating.Schools make “a massive contribution to IQ,”he explained, and kindergarten and first gradeare crucial. While research shows that religiousand charter schools (with some exceptions) andteachers with higher degrees do not affect studentoutcomes, experienced teachers and the qualityof their instruction and interactions, as well asclass size, make a huge difference. One yearof early classroom instruction equals two yearsof IQ growth, advised Nesbitt, casting doubton the advisability of holding children backfrom starting school. Other environmental factorsaffecting development of intelligence includefamily moves, summer break, socioeconomicstatus, and stress. Nesbitt found that intellectualskills dropped for lower-class students during thecontinued on page 26INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONIsraeli School Superintendents& Principals Visit NYC SchoolsBy Smadar Zeller, Principal,Shapira Sci-Tech School, IsraelOur entire group of educational leaders wasimpressed by the educational system in NewYork City.Unfortunately, we all must deal with highdropout rates in specific groups of the population.The effective measures we used in Israelwere based on the perspective that a personwho feels related, connected and meaningfulwill cling to the educational system. We mustbase every step on a social habit and on theunderstanding that children must understandwhat they gain and what they might lose ifthey quit school.I am not sure I can give any advice to theeducators of NYC. I only know that I believeshowing those kids that we love them, wewant them to succeed and improve their livesand that we believe in them as well as beingvery clear in the requirements and persistencemight lead them to cling to the goal of studyingand adopting other cultural behaviors.The most popular careers that college graduatesare going into in Israel and the careersthat would enable them to support a familyin the future according to the main statisticoffice of Israel are medicine, dentistryand architecture.The careers that nowadays are the mostprofitable in Israel are computer engineering,science, mathematics and law. Analystsfrom Bar-Ilan University claim that the followingoccupations are going to become themost needed and profitable ones: therapyspecialists, hospital advisor, e-mail advisorand whisperer, who is a person that works inpublic relations and is supposed to calm downunsatisfied customers.Another needed job is a head hunter fortalented people and also the special job ofa person who is responsible for the ego andsatisfaction of the employees in the company.Bioinformatics and all that has to do withgenetic research is going to be very needed.I am a principal of a very unique school inIsrael since it is one of a very few schools thatare purely technological. As part of the pedagogicalperspective, we chose to combine twospecial programs. Entering the school our studentsstudy leadership. On the stage of firstyear in high school they learn how to becomea meaningful member of our community, howto contribute to the society we are part of.In the second year of high school (11thgrade) they have a program of financial literacyeducation in which they study how torelate to incomes and outcomes, how to managetheir own budget and the family budgetand many other financial aspects that arerelevant to their lives.Both programs are experimental programsdeveloped in Israel sci-tech schools network.#Congratulations to theGraduates of 2012Benjamin Van Doren,White Plains HS, White Plains, NYHigh schoolsenior BenjaminVan Doren hasbeen named aFinalist in the 2012Intel ScienceTalent Search forhis work in ornithology.He plansto continue hisresearch at CornellUniversity.Ethan Arberman,Johnson & Wales, Providence, RIEthan will begetting a degreein NetworkEngineering fromJohnson & WalesUniversity. Aftergraduation he willbe working for asmall technologycompany inMassachusetts.Explore new heights throughContinuing Education atHunter CollegeJoin us at an upcoming open house:Legal Studies 5/14 6:00-7:30pmLegal Nurse Consulting 5/14 6:00-7:30pmMedical Coding & Billing 5/15 6:00-7:30pmGeneral Open House 5/16 12:00-2:00pmFitness Instructor 5/16 6:00-7:30pmGraphic Design 5/17 6:00-8:00pm& Web ProgrammingTranslation 5/24 6:00-7:45pm& Interpretation 5/31 6:00-7:45pmSUMMER 2012To RSVP for an Open House, call 212.650.3850or e-mail ce@hunter.cuny.eduFor more information and full course schedule visit:www.hunter.cuny.edu/ceBrooks O’Brien,Marymount Univerity, Arlington, VABrooks MorganO’Brien, graduatedfrom LandmarkCollege, AAdegree and fromMarymount U., inArlington, VA witha BFA. Will starta job in graphicdesign with USAToday.Ken Hayes,Eastern Michigan University, MIKen will begetting an MSin ExercisePhysiology. Hewill begin ajob as ExerciseSpecialist, Strength& ConditioningCoach, and YouthProgram Director.68th Street & Lexington Avenue