Intelligence testing

"Alternatively, when there is interest, IQ does not deter learning, especially repetitive learning, and even mildly retarded people can learn to perform tasks with expertise."

Agreed, darbyshaw. There are many different kinds of intelligence, and IQ tests are just not developed enough yet to take many many things into consideration.

One story my grandfather told me, who was a doctor, was that when he was in practice, and medical knowledge wasn't what it is today, they would send "retarded" people to be "bagel benders", i.e. working in the local bakeries making bagels. It worked great at the time, before automation. These guys were experts.

cavfancier

Those with lesser intelligence actually get more satisfaction our of their jobs in life as well. It seems with more abilities, more windows of opportunity, we humans hit the "undecided wall" and make some pretty terrible choices, leading to dissatisfaction.

I enjoyed your story about the bagel benders and can relate! When I was working while going to school I had a job in a local government planning department. I was asked to send their updated country maps to the local mentally retarded resource center.

When I wrote the address on the envelopes, I thought someone was pulling my leg and nobody would tell me what I thought was the truth.

The maps came back boxed by the thousands, folded immaculately by hand, from those wonderful workers. Not one ruined map in the bunch.
We all know how difficult it is to "refold" nice new maps. Guess who made them that way???

My face was red, and guess who had to buy donuts for the staff!

They have authomatic folding machines of course, but it was the local government's way of supporting the challenged people working in this group to be independent.

I love stories like this about life - we hear too much of the horror these days and there are still some wonderful things happening in our world if we keep our hearts open.