Intelligence, destiny, and education

by John White

"How sound is the notion of general intelligence on which intelligence testing has been based? And if the idea cannot be justified, can it at least be explained? How did it originate? What are its historical roots?" "In Intelligence, Destiny and Education, John White argues that these roots draw sustenance from the puritan tradition and its heirs on both sides of the Atlantic. Beginning with the works, family histories and socio-religious assumptions of Galton, Pearson, Burt, Goddard, Terman, and others, he traces the story back to traditional puritan beliefs in predestination, salvation, the elect, and the power of logical thinking. On the way, he shows how the traditional subject-based school curriculum, whose history has been so closely intertwined with that of intelligence testing, has sprung from the same roots."--Jacket.