Date:    Tue, 8 Nov 1994 19:15:48 -0500
From:    Oliver Garfield 
Subject: So what if Murray and the Bell Curve hypothesis is correct?

I am in one of the groups with an inferior bell curve since I am not an
Asian. However I have a respectable IQ and graduated from an IVY league
College. I now teach students in a public trade school who are not
academic hot shots. They are by and large interested in learning but not
too well prepared and take on the average at least 5 years to finish high
school and have a fairly high drop out rate.

I make these remarks as a prelude to the basic question all educators face.
"How can we prepare these students to hold jobs, understand how to take
care of themselves in a complex world?" It doesn't make any difference
how they came to be badly prepared, or whether they take longer to get
through a curriculum they have to be educated and prepared to participate
in society even if according to Mr. Murray there are genetic reasons for
their predicament and ours.

Our focus must be not a sterile debates about genetic links that we are
not now in a position to identify and even more to do anything about.
Our present focus must be on wfinding the most effective ways to educate
them to the level they require for continuing labor force participation.
This is a separate topic.

On the other hand we must acknowledge that our bodies and minds are
formed by genes. Many forms of mental retardation can be specifically
identified early and either dealt with by abortion, or by careful
monitoring of diet. It is not so far fetched that certain genes will be
identified whose output can be corrected at an early age so that long
term effects will not increase the damage. Schizophrenia may  be diagosed
earlier and appropriate medicines started before years of schooling are
wasted. Autism may be found to be caused by genetic anomalies. Such
possibilities are far from remote. I for instance have gout and have
taken a single pill daily for over twenty years. While not a mental
condition gout is notable for the simplicity of the cure, and the
considerable incapacitation from a single gene metabolic disorder.

All of us have some recessive or defective genes. Our job as a society is
to correct the effect of those genes as best we can. Gradually we are
gathering the tools to do this. But we are not there yet. Until we are we
must accept that each of us has genetically caused problems and
limitations and we do not know at what age  they will manifest themselves.

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*Oliver Garfield                        email: oliver@panix.com       *
*World Health Foundation                phone: 212-877-4230           *
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