Among the budget cuts that the city council is considering is a 5 percent reduction in funds for secondary education. As the principal of one of the junior high schools that could be affected, Stella is worried. Such a reduction would almost certainly mean teacher layoffs and fewer teachers teaching more students. Currently the school offers basic math and english courses for students on three levels: average, below average, and above average. However, a smaller budget may require offering only two levels next year. One possibility that Stella is considering is dropping the accelerated courses. After all, the bright kids would do well no matter what. On the other hand, dropping courses designed for below average student would mean that those students would not get the extra attention that they need. Stella think that if push comes to shove, its the honors program that will have to go. Answer the following questions:1 - What solution would you offer if you were Stella and there were budget cuts in your school?2 - Is Stella right that bright kids will do well no matter what? Explain your answer.3 - At what age is intelligence set? Is there anything you can do to improve your intelligence score on an IQ test? 4 - Should gifted students and below average students be integrated into the same class? Explain.

1 - What solution would you offer if you were Stella and there were budget cuts in your school?

Instead of cutting the class for bright students, all three classes should continue, but with fewer funds. In other words, the funds should be reduced accross the classes.

2 - Is Stella right that bright kids will do well no matter what? Explain your answer.

She is partly right. Bright kids are likely to do well in most situations, however, this does not mean that all bright kids will do well in most situations, or that they will do better in an average classroom, than in a classroom that is catered to them.

3 - At what age is intelligence set? Is there anything you can do to improve your intelligence score on an IQ test?

According to most recent research, the brain seems to mature when a person is in the mid-20s, however, this does not mean that intelligence is "set" at that moment. Intelligence can be improved during most of adult life.

To do better on an IQ test, a person should have healthy habits, and should also incurr in metal stimulation: puzzle, mental games, studying a language, and so on.

4 - Should gifted students and below average students be integrated into the same class? Explain.

Ideally no. If the students are very gifted, they will simply get bored. However, in case it happens, it can also have a positive effect and that is the bright students will probably end up helping the average students.