Essay - Howard Gardner and Evelyn Sowell on the Perfect Student Abstract:...

Howard Gardner and Evelyn Sowell on the Perfect Student

*****: Will our educational system ever produce the "perfect student" graduate of a "perfect school?" If we follow theories of How*****rd ***** and ***** Sowell, there is a strong possibility. But we must also re-evaluate ***** testing ***** evaluation procedures.

***** ideal student coming out of the perfect ***** would not necessarily be ***** person who has performed the best on multiple choice tests or ***** had the best attendance rec*****d. My ideal student is some*****e who has learned how to enhance and develop his or her innate intelligences ***** the perfect school is an institution that helps ***** student achieve that goal.

Since everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, I believe Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple *****ntelligences is an excellent approach to learning. Gardner believes intelligence is "the capacity to solve problems or ***** fashion products that are valued in one or more cultural sett*****gs." (1.) Using ***** background in biology and psychology, Gardner tapped into his research to devise his list of seven *****s: *****., Visual-Spatial Intelligence; 2., Musical ***** 3., Verbal Intelligence; 4., Logical-Ma*****matical ***** 5., Inter*****al Intelligence; 6., Intrapersonal Intelligence; ***** 7., Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence.

Gardner believes we are all born with these intelligences, but some are more developed than ot*****s by the time we enter the classroom. The ch*****enge is to get educators to implement curriculum that can be adapted to those in the class ***** are more developed in certain areas, but also ***** lose those whose ***** aren't quite as refined. Therefore, curriculum ***** be engaging on several different levels if learning can be *****d. An educator ***** use d*****ferent methodologies in presenting lessons, ***** the student must be willing to work through difficult areas, or ***** where he or she needs ***** refine one of the innate intelligences.

In my opinion, the perfect student would have made an attempt to learn difficult material and also has made ***** effort ***** fully master his natural talents. This is all we can ask of students. There are going to be subjects students will not like and success in these areas must ***** adapted to each student. Often subjects that are not "liked" are those that are not taught ***** succinct or tangible terms. The challenge for *****s is to bring each individual child to a successful level but also to achieve success ***** the whole class. Un*****tunately, ***** is *****ten measured ***** st*****ardized tests and assessments to which we must adhere. While I may not agree with standardized testing, this realm of evaluation is a reality.

Educators face a daunting task and our ever-changing ***** diverse demographics continue to make teaching more challenging to the educational system as well as ***** individual educators. In order to give more individualized attention, ***** ***** the key ***** the perfect *****'s success, we need to depend on ***** administration ***** the perfect ***** to be there for support, including *****signing ***** teachers to tutoring duties where needed, possibly including