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a little Isaac Newton - the perfect scientist. What kind of musical
instrument can I make from this material (shaking it)? What is the
sociological, economic value of this material (putting it in his mouth)?
Anybody want some (offering it around)? What is the engineering,
mechanical, tensile strength of the material (pulling it apart)? Stick
it in the chemical laboratory (chewing it)? Check the musical instrument
- and on to the next experiment. Now the baby is using all of its brain.
Logic? Yes. Analysis? Yes. Rhythm? Yes. Everything? Yes."
Scientists have tested this infant
ability in many ways. In 1964, Benjamin S. Bloom, Professor of Education
at the University of Chicago, published a summary of major research
findings. In it, he studied five main human characteristics between
birth and age 17 and 18: height, general learning ability, school
achievement, aggressiveness in males and dependence in females.3
Overwhelmingly, he found that
development soared in the first few years - then tapered off. Generally
it reached its halfway point before the fifth birthday. He found boys
reached 54 percent of their maximum height by their third birthday,
another 32 percent between three and 12, and the last 14 percent by the
18th birthday.
He also concluded that among both
girls and boys, about 50 percent of intelligence, as measured in tests
at 17, took place between conception and age four, about 30 percent
between four and eight, and the final 20 percent between the ages of
eight and 17. Even researchers who question the validity of standardized
intelligence tests would probably endorse this overall finding - so long
as the words learning ability are substituted for intelligence.
Bloom also analyzed vocabulary,
reading comprehension and general school achievement between birth and
age 18. This convinced him that 33 percent of an 18-year-old's academic
skills are achieved by age six, 42 percent between six and 13, and 25
percent between 13 and 18.
Since Bloom's study, much other
research has shown, however, that several differences between male and
female brains do show up early in life.
The corpus callosum in baby girls,
for instance, is generally thicker than in boys. This helps most girls
to read earlier than boys. Generally girls speak earlier and learn
languages more quickly. Males seem to have better distance vision and
depth perception than females, making them more adept at certain sports.4
Contents
Page Preface
Introduction
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