subject: Intelligence: Innate Or Artificial Amongst Children [print this page] It has been a debate since time immemorial on whether we are born intelligent or manufactured intelligent. John Lock, the western philosopher developed a theory which stated that we are born with some scattered innate ideas and gradually we develop the capability to give proper shape to those ideas. This epistemological theory is known as Tabula-Rasa. Generally proponents of the tabula rasa thesis favor the "nurture" side of the nature versus nurture debate, when it comes to aspects of one's personality, social and emotional behavior, and intelligence. Thought there are various critics to the theory given by Lock, but most of the great thinkers agreed to the statement that we are not born empty minded. A child's first words, grasping a spoon, babies turning their head in recognition of their mother's voice; all these are examples of a young child's developmental "steps" forward. Everyone possesses some unique qualities and there is no denying of the fact that if these qualities are encouraged in the initial years of a child"s life, a child can become a genius in the respective field. But it is not so easy to understand and catch a childs interest. Children are quite inconsistent in their behavior. In the morning they may show an inclination towards music, where as in the evening they may ask us to buy them a chess board. In such cases, parents need to observe closely the activity that they perform most frequently. Moreover, motivation plays a vital role. In the initial two years, the babys brain grows the most. When babies are exposed to sights, sounds, textures to feel, smells, and tastes, more connections are made inside the brain. Genetics, food and nutrition, responsiveness of parents, daily experiences, physical activity and love are the factors that that play the crucial influence during this stage.
In the development of a childs intelligence, the school plays a major role. Imagine a child's brain is like a house that has just been built. The walls are up, the doors are hung. Then you go to the store and buy electrical wiring, switches, a fuse box and other electrical supplies. You bring these supplies to the new house and set them on the floor. Will they work? Probably not! You first must string the wiring and hook up all the connections and only then can you get the electricity in the house. In modern day schools, the introduction of creative learning material is a way of sharpening the intelligence of the growing learners. The teachers in schools play the role of fencing masters who guard the minds of these little grownups. There is no denying the fact that we are born with some intelligence, but during our childhood we lack the power to direct that intelligence in a correct way. In this regard we need the help of parents, teachers and elders who know the world better than we do. The school environment, to a large extent, influences a childs intelligence. Thus, we can say that intelligence isnt manufactured, but all the efforts are directed towards preserving that intelligence so that the future generation can make a worthy use of it.
by: Ravi Jain
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