Off the Radar

Consider the movie "Goodwill Hunting". This movie is a fictional example of a student who dropped out of high school yet was a genius by most standards. In the movie he solves mathematical equations left undone by the math teacher while working as a night janitor and is pursued later by teachers and staff alike who wish to acquire his knowledge for government and other purposes.

Although this movie is fictional, one has to think that it's plot just might not be that far from reality as there are undoubtedly thousands of high school and college dropouts who have intelligence quotas that surpass many in the rest of the world of conformers.

A recent study seems to validate this notion stating that it is estimated that twenty percent of high school drop outs are in the gifted range yet for various reasons cannot or will not conform to the boundaries of the educational system.

That is not to say that all dropouts are gifted by any stretch of the word nor does it say that those working their tail ends off to finish their education are not that bright after all as we know that this isn't true. Einstein finished college and so did Edison and Newton.

But it is possible that there is a different way to educate these kids that hasn't been yet attempted. What must be considered also is that the social structure of elementary school, high school and college is what turns a good percentage of bright talent away as those who are more introverted cannot learn in an environment where noise and popularity dominate the classroom. Instead of reaching out to these kids, they are instead given labels such as "social phobics" and put on medication. Others that are loud and boisterous are told they have "attention deficit disorder" and they too are placed on drugs.

These drugs at times do work, but instead perhaps it should be considered that these dropouts are different and require a different approach to learning. If given the right style of learning, such as self-teaching, it might surprise educators what they could discover about such kids.

One such child who dropped out of college yet is a "walking encyclopedia" told the author once that he has "graduated from the university of Google." No doubt there are many more like him who cannot find employment as this world is governed by those who can conform and do conform rather than by those who are self taught. Isn't it about time we listen to those who just might have something important to say who perhaps are not highly educated? It might surprise us to learn what these people have to teach us.