Academics = Intelligence?

[ShooterMcGavin]

I don't really buy into the book smarts vs street smarts thing that much, mainly because I don't think they're that mutually exclusive (except in extreme cases); ie. if the "street smart" person can think logically and fast on his toes in practical situations, I'd say he can very much be "book smart" and do well in abstract thinking tests as well (and most likely he probably is).

edit: also, as an addendum, that's based on my take of street smart, I have a feeling that many equate street smart more with EQ and the ability to perceive and deal with other people.

i never said they're mutually exclusive though...thought i was pretty clear in stating that most ppl have both to some degree, and the more you have of both, the smarter you are overall. but obviously there are those obsessed with one or the other (more commonly book smarts) and will focus on that one area and tend to end up more well versed in one area and not the other.

[yudalicious]

i never said they're mutually exclusive though...thought i was pretty clear in stating that most ppl have both to some degree, and the more you have of both, the smarter you are overall. but obviously there are those obsessed with one or the other (more commonly book smarts) and will focus on that one area and tend to end up more well versed in one area and not the other.

Yea I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was merely stating that when talking about book smarts vs common sense, people are always quick to see the two as very polar and incongruent things, as evident by Ran's post of choosing one over the other.

Kids in Asia spend so much more time studying due to competition. I think america's primary and secondary education systems need to step it up, stop cuddling kids and giving everyone As in elementary school.

[Ran]

Yea I wasn't trying to put words in your mouth. I was merely stating that when talking about book smarts vs common sense, people are always quick to see the two as very polar and incongruent things, as evident by Ran's post of choosing one over the other.

The thread topic seemed to be steered towards one preference over the other so I responded appropriately.

I do believe that a balance of both is necessary and that, in one way or another, both "divisions" of logic play into the other. For instance, you can't get book smart without knowing how to get to school, but you can't balance your checkbook without taking a math class.

I think america's primary and secondary education systems need to step it up, stop cuddling kids and giving everyone As in elementary school.

My girlfriend works in a daycare and they can't even put the kids in timeout anymore because it secludes them and lowers their self-esteem.