The criterion of measuring
intelligence in schools is its grading system, but in typical Pakistani
education system good grades are merely the depiction of memorization power in
students. Our curriculum focuses only on the questions which are asked in
exercises, instead of focusing on the applied questions. As a result, students
lack in applied skills.
Intelligence is defined as “it is the resultant of the process of acquiring,
storing in memory, retrieving, combining, comparing, and using in new contexts
information and conceptual skills” (Humphreys). According to this definition,
intelligent person has the ability to take the concept and use his concept
whenever needed.
In modern world, the concept of multiple intelligence is emerged. According to
this concept, intelligence is a mental ability and there are different types of
intelligence which are linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical
intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence,
interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, naturalistic
intelligence. For instance, a child uses a piece of rope for swinging by tied it
with a branch of tree. In this, a child utilizes his spatial intelligence and
uses a piece of rope for playing it with.
Linguistic intelligence is related to the communication and writing skills. The
person who has this type of intelligence is conscious in choosing words and
sound of words. Poets, journalists and speech-writers exhibit such intelligence.
In logical-mathematical intelligence, person is good in ordering objects,
assessing their quantity and making relationship among them. Scientists,
mathematicians, and philosophers display such skills. Spatial intelligence
exhibits the skill of remembering visual and spatial information. Such
individuals can easily copy shapes and match visual images. They are good in
charts, diagrams or maps and visual arts. Besides this, bodily-kinesthetic
intelligence is the ability to create products by using their bodies. Athletes,
surgeons, dancers, craftspeople are the example of Bodily-kinesthetic
intelligence. Furthermore, awareness of feelings and intentions that belong to
others is interpersonal intelligence. Teachers, parents, politicians,
psychologists, and salespeople rely on this. Moreover, intrapersonal
intelligence helps individuals to “distinguish among their own feelings, to
build accurate mental models of themselves, and to draw on these models to make
decisions about their lives” (Kreshevsky & Siedel, 1998, p. 20).Therapists and
religious leaders may exhibit strength in this intelligence and naturalistic
intelligence helps people to recognize living environment. Farmers, gardeners,
botanists, geologists, florists, and archaeologists are the examples.
Teachers and parents should not only focus on the logical intelligence, they
should know the concept of multiple intelligence. For the development of
innovation in ideas and originality in personality it is strongly needed that
education system pay attention to student’s interest and channelize his energy
in right direction.
Multiple Intelligence is dependent on the environment of student i.e., his
socioeconomic status, education, family, peer group etc. Parents and teachers
should encourage the student’s little independency, so that, his mind remain
actively engage in problem solving process. They should give attention and
appreciation to his applied skills, also encouraging his extracurricular
activities e.g. exercising, swimming, language learning, visiting to educational
or natural places etc. It will consequently cause the development of
intelligence as a whole. It might be happen that after his exposure he will find
in which aspect he is the best.
Intelligence is a relative term; we should not label it only with the grades in
the examination. It is often seen students with best grades in class usually not
successful in practical life and vice versa. The point is, we should encourage
the individual in his scope of intelligence. This attitude will ultimately bring
the ace specifically in field of profession and generally in the course of his
life. ( author is graduate student in Sociology and Cultural Studies at PU)