[hennie pennie]

>>>>> "....[children] were as smart and able as any on the planet between birth and age four or so. When they were completely weaned from breastfeeding and had to get by on the local, meager and unsanitary food, they began to fall behind in development, compared to children in other countries.

It's poverty, not heat." <<<<<

Age 4? Were they given IQ tests and then tested again at, say, age 10?? I thought that IQ was developed VERY young in life? I thought IQ was a constant?

What does this thesis of your sister's say about programs such as Head Start, or about the subsidized school lunch program???

Are there any scientific studies to back up her impressions of the local population during her time in the Peace Corps?

[married21]

1. It’s anecdotal and old, but she was a teacher and that was the thought among the teachers there at that time. You don’t have to jump all over it (unless you want to.)
2. Who says IQ is constant? I’m no expert (as you are acutely aware), but it seems like bad health could take it down. Don’t you know people who’s health is run down and they can’t think like they used to?
3. Re: Head Start or school lunch— I’d guess regular meals will help you learn. Also, I read that kids who take vitamins score higher on tests. The bummer is that the families who are providing vitamins are also most likely to provide a diet that already contains plenty of vitamins in the food. Those who are poorly feeding their kids don’t give them vitamins, either.

4. The La Leche League people, after some study, insist that a full course of breast feeding is worth an extra 8 IQ points. Obviously, you don’t receive the 8 points in a package on the day you are weaned. The points had to be building up while you were accumulating the nourishment. So there has to be some movement in IQ.