At the beginning of the chapter, I said Garry Kasparov was once thought to be one of the most intelligent people on the planet. When his IQ was eventually tested — the German magazine Der Spiegel put up the money — he scored 135. That means, in academic terms, he is smart but no genius. Yet, he is undoubtedly a genius by any common sense definition: the best chess player to ever live. These days he involves himself in politics rather than chess and is still uniquely able to concentrate for long periods of time. Concentration seems a very important factor. Einstein was once asked where his genius came from. He replied that he did not consider himself a genius but instead put his success down to his persistence and ability to concentrate on a problem for many years. 1Q tests say nothing of our ability to concentrate over extended periods and nothing about our drive to change the world. The tests are, at best, a useful but dangerous diagnostic tool for educators. One of the worst things IQ can do is pigeonhole people. Would Kasparov have become world champion if he had been given his IQ score of 135 as a teenager rather than late in his thirties after he had conquered the world? . " -" A | - . - - > a > _ iil * we “ Oy q 7 4 Hole-in-the-Wall fleperintent “Education is what is left after what has been learnt has been forgotten.” B.E Skinner HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_015724