Success and Intelligence at Home

Special Topic Update from Head of School Chris Ongaro: Success and Intelligence at Home

Whether speaking with parents or professionals, it is often safe to say that we value intelligence and success. At home this summer, I'd encourage specific consideration of Gardner's multiple intelligences and Sternberg's successful intelligence. This week, we'll start with Gardner.

Although commonly used in discussion, the meanings of each success and intelligence are not straightforward, so let's start with a brief look at both. For success, we might acknowledge distinctions across personal values and cultural markers. When we look at intelligence, we are opening a similar can of worms--one that's important to open and even more important to do so thoughtfully. To crudely consolidate its history, intelligence in the 20th century typically involved an effort to define it as a single, testable thing. The concept of intelligence broadened with such ideas as Gardner's multiple intelligences, which shifted intelligence to a set of discrete abilities that don't necessarily impact one another. Imagine a poet who never succeeded playing an instrument, a doctor who struggles in athletics, or a forest ranger who avoids public speaking. Each instance supports the idea that intelligence could lead to varied forms of success. Said differently, it is an optimistic reminder that when an individual struggles with one task, we do not need to rule out success in other tasks.

Where does this leave us, especially in summer 2021? The pandemic's intensity and disruption may leave many of us feeling adrift. Those conditions are also an opportunity for genuine reflection about our priorities and related efforts. Gardner comes into play here in helping refine our efforts. The multiple intelligences concept encourages us to search for strengths. One way to approach this is to create purposefully varied experiences--all with a curious eye seeking glimmers of interest or ability. Each glimmer is then an opportunity for future experiences or conversations. 

If it seems like your child is bouncing from interest to interest, take comfort in the fact that they are getting a taste of many experiences. At the same time, take note of what each involved. What might've deterred ongoing interest? What might've been a glimmer of interest or ability? Going the other direction, if your child seems to be stuck in the same activities each day, look for ways (perhaps brief and infrequent at the start) to involve them in something different. Keep the outcomes of all of these efforts in mind for future experiences.   

Succeeding in any of that with a fifteen-year-old who is otherwise savoring the summer? Yes, it might not always be easy. Take it slow and take Gardner along as you persist. Hold onto the role that varied experiences can play in shaping your child's future learning. In this way, each small conversation at the dinner table or shared viewing of a movie can become your own means of data collection to help understand areas your child may value for success. New insights about strengths and interests are also great things to share with your child's advisor in the fall. 

Be well,
Chris Ongaro