You can't dumb down or smarten up society. It is what it is.
That, unfortunately is the same mentality that so many liberals display: "they can't have a democracy in the middle east!" Yes, they can, and they will. I believe we will see a chain reaction throughout the middle east over the next 10-15 years.
Back on the subject. I am not any more intelligent than anyone else. I can honestly say that I feel inadeqaute in many areas. I made it to Cal II. I know that the vast majority of students can do Algebra. The problem is not intelligence. The problems are many, but the issue is not about what kids can comprehend. I will never accept that as an option. All of our children are capable.
I don't know if all children are capable but I believe the majority are. And I don't know if the public school system will ever have the ability to ensure that each child reaches their potential.
In my children's school district we have a talented and gifted program. Children are given a non-verbal intelligence test in third grade and then are accepted based on their score. The TAG teacher told me this certain test was the best she could find and she wanted a test that you couldn't study for. It was reasoning and sequencing. Some children made it into the TAG program who later didn't perform academically as well as some who didn't make it. This caused a great outcry among some teachers who didn't like the fact that "little Johnny" with the C in her class got to go to TAG each week. The point I made was that maybe "little Johnny" wasn't being reached. I said "there is something in his head". (One of my friends is one of the teachers in question)
Teachers like kids who are hard-working and well-behaved and I understand that. Ever so often though you see that gem of a teacher who can grab the attention and respect of the other kids and go with them. Those teachers have a gift and should be rewarded for it.