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In 1970 my middle school principal called an assembly together for a talk. He proceeded to say that several people in our accelerated classes had low IQs. He tried to turn it into an "inspiring" speech about how these "low IQ' students had a "high will Q" rather than IQ. Well, of course everybody was wondering who had the "low IQ". And it turned out that I scored low on the IQ test because I had OCD and kept checking repeatedly during the test resulting in me never finishing any IQ tests because of my repetitive OCD checking. If you do not finish an IQ test you will score low on the test. People found out that I scored low on the IQ test and I was bullied by several students even in high school. Would this behavior by this principal have been allowed today? By the way, rot in hell Mr. Littlejohn in SC. Thanks. I needed that.
In 1970 people were more apt to tell the truth and he turned it into a motivational speech. Back then everything was just real. You can't go back to 1970 with the style of today where they don't even want accelerated classes because of equality which is completely fake.
All that being said, you might want to move on with life. Be thankful you lived in a time of reality. You sucked at those tests, but you were a great student. Good for you. Nice he could use you as an example. If you got bullied, you probably didn't know how to handle it. Everyone got bullied from time to time in school back then. Now kids might shoot someone that bullies them. Oh to go back to 1970. Sign me up.
I don't know how old the Principal was in 1970 but if he was near 60 years of age that would have put him being born around 1910. Lets say he was in his early 20's when he began to teach. (1930) Look at what the trends in thinking were in those years. The Eugenics Movement was peaking around 1930 and still had a lasting impression on people beyond the 1960's and I heard many of my teachers (who prided themselves on being what they called "Old School" make references to Eugenics views) There have been people with learning disabilities (LD) most likely since the beginning of mankind but the condition wasn't recognized for what it was then.
Parents who grew up in one room school houses and became workers or housewives after school days continued holding the beliefs of the time as that was what they had learned. Many would still have believed that the brain was a muscle like any other muscle in the body and with academic exercise it would grow stronger. Thus some teachers & Principals would believe having students compete and study hard would net the results they wanted.
John B Watson was introducing "Behaviorism" around 1920 an published "Psychology as a Behaviorist Views it". This too made a lasting impression of educators of the day. Many of my teachers thru High School seemed to endorse Watson's theories too.
It wasn't until the early 1960's that learning disabilities were beginning to be studied and inroads made into the field by those like Psychologist Samuel Kirk. Educators could understand speech & hearing problems as those were more self evident. Yet what was going on in the minds of LD kids was viewed or addressed as a function of their behavior. Or worse judged thru the beliefs of Eugenics.
Why ? Because teachers tend to teach what "they" know. And in those years there may have been a school Nurse, but rarely were there specialist that teachers could send the students to in order to diagnose LD problems. Still, those same teachers were called on by anxious parents to explain their student's problems that they really had no concept of. This often left teachers and Principles suggesting "summer school" or playing students against each other in an attempt to make them compete and try harder to learn. I saw so much of that in my school days. Everyone in school knew who the "dumb" kids were.
IRONICALLY: Within a few years of graduating, some of the "dumb" kids were doing fine and succeeding more so than the "onward & upward" honor role set. One of the dumb kids I walked to school with is now a multi millionaire in the culinary business. So many of the straight A kids
had no memory of their teachers names within five years after graduating. Teachers were often astonished that their favorite achievers didn't recognize them on the streets when crossing paths with each other. But if those who achieve high academic standards cannot remember what they have leaned long after they have learned it, how is that not a learning disability ? Hmmmm ?
...and lastly, I've read on social media for years now of the lack of interest people have in going back to Class Reunions. I feel the same way. Why would I want to go back and revisit that sad situation that I survived again ? Of all the skills I learned in school days "typing" is probably the skill I"ve used most since.
.. He proceeded to say that several people in our accelerated classes had low IQs. He tried to turn it into an "inspiring" speech about how these "low IQ' students had a "high will Q" rather than IQ. ..
It was the wrong approach then and now. Today he'd know better, or lose his job.
I don't know how old the Principal was in 1970 but if he was near 60 years of age that would have put him being born around 1910. Lets say he was in his early 20's when he began to teach. (1930) Look at what the trends in thinking were in those years. The Eugenics Movement was peaking around 1930 and still had a lasting impression on people beyond the 1960's and I heard many of my teachers (who prided themselves on being what they called "Old School" make references to Eugenics views) There have been people with learning disabilities (LD) most likely since the beginning of mankind but the condition wasn't recognized for what it was then.
Parents who grew up in one room school houses and became workers or housewives after school days continued holding the beliefs of the time as that was what they had learned. Many would still have believed that the brain was a muscle like any other muscle in the body and with academic exercise it would grow stronger. Thus some teachers & Principals would believe having students compete and study hard would net the results they wanted.
John B Watson was introducing "Behaviorism" around 1920 an published "Psychology as a Behaviorist Views it". This too made a lasting impression of educators of the day. Many of my teachers thru High School seemed to endorse Watson's theories too.
It wasn't until the early 1960's that learning disabilities were beginning to be studied and inroads made into the field by those like Psychologist Samuel Kirk. Educators could understand speech & hearing problems as those were more self evident. Yet what was going on in the minds of LD kids was viewed or addressed as a function of their behavior. Or worse judged thru the beliefs of Eugenics.
Why ? Because teachers tend to teach what "they" know. And in those years there may have been a school Nurse, but rarely were there specialist that teachers could send the students to in order to diagnose LD problems. Still, those same teachers were called on by anxious parents to explain their student's problems that they really had no concept of. This often left teachers and Principles suggesting "summer school" or playing students against each other in an attempt to make them compete and try harder to learn. I saw so much of that in my school days. Everyone in school knew who the "dumb" kids were.
IRONICALLY: Within a few years of graduating, some of the "dumb" kids were doing fine and succeeding more so than the "onward & upward" honor role set. One of the dumb kids I walked to school with is now a multi millionaire in the culinary business. So many of the straight A kids
had no memory of their teachers names within five years after graduating. Teachers were often astonished that their favorite achievers didn't recognize them on the streets when crossing paths with each other. But if those who achieve high academic standards cannot remember what they have leaned long after they have learned it, how is that not a learning disability ? Hmmmm ?
...and lastly, I've read on social media for years now of the lack of interest people have in going back to Class Reunions. I feel the same way. Why would I want to go back and revisit that sad situation that I survived again ? Of all the skills I learned in school days "typing" is probably the skill I"ve used most since.
Because of this thread, I took out my senior yearbook -- 1968 -- and looked up "special ed". In a school of over 1,000 students there was one SPED teacher, and -- oddly enough...and a dated way of doing things -- the yearbook had his photo with about a dozen SPED students. There's that different mindset of how to handle special ed back in the day.
The principal had the assembly which started people asking who in the accelerated class scored low on the IQ test. After all, inquiring minds want to know. Thus, the feeding frenzy of questioning teachers started till one gave up the identity. The principal should never have had this assembly in the first place.
The principal was very misguided in what he did. However, the person who would likely be fired today for this, based on FERPA laws, would be the teacher who gave up the info. Having taught during the era you gave, though, no one blinked an eye at disclosing what should have been private information back then.
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My .02 cents. The high school principal likely meant well, but was misguided. The OP was hurt by these actions, which says all you need to say. A top of the line educator (then or now) likely wouldn't have planted a seed that is still hurting someone 50 years later. People make mistakes.
The principal was very misguided in what he did. However, the person who would likely be fired today for this, based on FERPA laws, would be the teacher who gave up the info. Having taught during the era you gave, though, no one blinked an eye at disclosing what should have been private information back then.
Yes, good summary.
But let's keep in mind that there is an assumption here that a teacher gave up the info. It still seems to me that a conclusion has been made in the thread with no solid evidence...or at least none that has been presented.
In 1970 people were more apt to tell the truth and he turned it into a motivational speech. Back then everything was just real. You can't go back to 1970 with the style of today where they don't even want accelerated classes because of equality which is completely fake.
All that being said, you might want to move on with life. Be thankful you lived in a time of reality. You sucked at those tests, but you were a great student. Good for you. Nice he could use you as an example. If you got bullied, you probably didn't know how to handle it. Everyone got bullied from time to time in school back then. Now kids might shoot someone that bullies them. Oh to go back to 1970. Sign me up.
Kids did get shot in 1970 and stabbed. I know several that were shot on school grounds, as well as a teacher. There were lots of gangs. I much prefer today's antibullying checkpoints and training for teachers. There are still accelerated classes and programs for gifted kids.
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