Actually there was a study done with a room full of students and the teacher was told that a handful of them were gifted. When the grades came in, those students not only did the best in the class, but were also more participative. Where as the students who WERE naturally smart but not in that group performed very average.

The other factor I think is some sort of expectations from other to be smart and finding a way to better perform in school.

Also I think the placebo effect is another component. I have always been told by everyone in my family that I am smart. I did well in early elementary but beyond that I think my body finally grew into my brain and my intelligence became fairly average. However, I have always been more motivated and have never cheated as I have always seen more merit in learning the material rather than just getting a grade. I think this was due to people telling me that I was smart and caused me to be more involved in school.

Now that I'm in graduate school I can see that anyone can get through school, it just takes some extreme involvement (reading 2 long articles and at least a chapter everyday) and you can succeed. Actually I think for grad school it overwhelms intelligence, meaning, it doesn't matter how smart you are you still have to put in a bunch of work. But of course more intelligence never hurts.

I have never been bullied for my glasses but I know that many others were bullied.

I always think of the connection between intelligence and glasses as strange.
I started wearing glasses when I was a teen - did I turn intelligent then?

Ronit
http://www.behappyinlife.com

It is funny you saying it.
last week I ran a workshop to a group of grade 5 students. We were talking about bullying and when we finished the workshop a girl came to us and said she moved schools because the kids were teasing her for having glasses. She did not wear glasses and I asked her , do you have contacts now? and she said "no". she was so traumatized by the bullying she is not wearing her glasses to school at all.
I freaked out.
God, I cannot see without my glasses.
I cannot think without my glasses.
Can you imagine her schooling without glasses.
I do not envy that girl.

There will always be bully kids and what they do is look for some weakness - If kids see it as weakness, the bully will notice it in no time.

I had contacts in the past. twice in fact and I am still wearing glasses because it is much easier. I don't have the time every morning to put the contacts on.

There are many disadvantages to wearing glasses.
I hate it when I watch a 3D movie.
I hate it when I want to do snorkeling
It is less fun in swimming.
I hate to be in the rain.

There are many disadvantages.
At least the greatest advantage is that people think we are smart...

Happy life
Ronit
http://www.behappyinlife.com

Back when I got glasses in 2nd grade it wasn't that bad people noticed but only my friends because I had thin frames. When I got a new pair of glasses only my friends noticed. And here is the funniest part: when I got contacts in 8th grade only my friends noticed!

People really only notice if you go on and on about getting glasses or if you get thick frames (not lenses) in a dark color, out-of-the-ordinary pattern, or bright color. Three girls in my eighth grade class have gotten glasses this school year and its October! More are to come!

With my experience with glasses I learned: playing sports was horrible when I got sweaty, when the eye doctor squirts air into your eye hurts, pulling up your glasses up your nose is a habit, and as soon as you get contacts you will NEVER go back, at least for girls.

some kids wear glasses because of genetic disposition. I personally not sure about that.
I wear glasses since my teen years. My daughter reads soooooooooooooo much ( it is not funny, she reads about 4-6 hours a day)and she does not have glasses.

I think it is probably some combination of the two.

happy day
Ronit

Sometimes I wonder about conact lenses.
Do you think people with contact lenses miss the advantage or being percived smarter?

Happy day
Life Coaching