Eugenics, race and intelligence in education

Bibliographic Information

Eugenics, race and intelligence in education

Clyde Chitty ; with a foreword by Tony Benn

Continuum, 2009, c2007

  • : pbk

Available at  / 6 libraries

Search this Book/Journal

Note

Originally published: 2007

Includes bibliographical references (p. [143]-152) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

This is a fascinating study into how eugenics and concepts of intelligence have influenced education systems in both the UK and US.For over a hundred years, psychologists and human biologists have been engaged in an often heated debate as to whether 'heredity' or 'environment' should be viewed as the determining factor in the creation of the human personality. For teachers and educationists, the discussion has tended to focus on how the human mind functions and intellectual powers develop.The controversy is often simply expressed in terms of 'nature' versus 'nurture,' with some scientists declaring that human beings are a product of a transaction between the two. To many, such enquiry and speculation is little more than futile and depressing. Yet it can surely be argued that at least with regard to the development of abilities, the 'nature' versus 'nurture' debate has had dire consequences for the education of millions of young people. Furthermore, we need to question why this debate has been pursued with such vigour in both Britain and America.

Table of Contents

  • Foreword by Tony Benn
  • Introduction: Nature versus nurture
  • 1. The 'threat' of mass education
  • 2. The origins of the eugenics movement
  • 3. Eugenics and the intellectuals
  • 4. IQ and eleven-plus selection
  • 5. Intelligence testing challenged
  • 6. The new pre-occupation with intelligence and 'race'
  • 7. The durability of eugenics theories
  • Conclusion: Prospects for the future.

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

Page Top