<p>That depends on your school. </p>
<p>Out of the top students in my grade none of them are Asian, they are Swiss, German, Polish, American</p>
<p>Most of the Asians at my school are closer to the bottom. That doesn't really mean anything. I don't think any race is inherently smarter.</p>
<p>Well obviously, if their's only a few asians at your school (It looks like your in Germany), then the prevailing trend will not be apparent.</p>
<p>Actually we have quite a few Asians. But I've also gone to school in both Europe and the US and I've never seen this trend. I've heard about it, but haven't seen it.</p>
<p>That amazes me...</p>
<p>Thats why all this stuff on CC about Asians being "too smart" or something for admissions confuses me. I've never really seen it. I've attended 9 schools and never seen it. I guess maybe it depends on the school. </p>
<p>But back to the original question, I think hard work can achieve good grades in school. We have to differentiate between intelligence and successful in school- the two are not necessarily correlated.</p>
<p>also, its interesting, because the blacks that usually tend to be very smart come from African countries</p>
<p>for example, I am Nigerian, and i'm decently smart, but my parents push me very hard because they grew up in Nigerian based on the rigorous British education system, since Nigeria use to be a colony of the British</p>
<p>same thing for Indians to</p>
<p>its drive</p>
<p>That's definitely true. I remember reading a study, I think it was from Harvard, that looked at the achievement of black students in their classes. And they saw that immigrants from African or Caribbean nations performed much much better than black students who had been in America for a few generations.</p>
<p>yes, the British education system pushes for excellence in academics. students making the transition from the British system to an American school finds it so much easier to succeed and come out top.</p>
<p>I think it's both an emphasis on education, as well as most Asian parents who made it to America (for grad school or work) are quite intelligent, while the not-so-driven/smart Asians stay working the rice paddies.</p>
<p>One thing I've noticed about the British system is that it gives no opportunity for people to redeem themselves. Most of the people in my class were girls, as 4th grade boys didn't usually take studying seriously, and as a result they get shafted into the medium and slow tracks. Basically in Singapore your fate is sealed by the "sorting" exams in 4th grade and again in 6th grade; where we EM1 kids get extra days of school on Saturdays so we can get ahead.</p>
<p>Yes exactly, the British system's streaming leaves no room for kids who mature later on in life, such as the EM3 kids who are basically stuck at the bottom forever.</p>
<p>Sorry this is a bit off topic.</p>
<p>
[quote]
That's definitely true. I remember reading a study, I think it was from Harvard, that looked at the achievement of black students in their classes. And they saw that immigrants from African or Caribbean nations performed much much better than black students who had been in America for a few generations.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I've seen this happen. heh, i guess this implies something about American culture. -_-</p>
<p>This is the age old debate of nature versus nuture.</p>
<p>Many of you seem to be missing the OP's point. He is NOT comparing individuals. He IS comparing entire races, not individuals (Although, imo generalizing on this scale is a very stupid thing to do.). People tend to miss this point and draw on their own personal experiences/feelings.</p>
<p>I do not wish to come off as being ethnocentric, but the statistics are there (As cited by Genesis). Asians as a whole appear to have higher IQs than most other races/groups *as a whole<a href="other%20than%20certain%20groups%20of%20Jews%20as%20mentioned%20above">/i</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29</a></p>
<p>That said, it means virtually NOTHING. Individuals in other races certainly can and do achieve more than individual Asians, and vice versa; as demonstrated by many posters in this thread. In my opinion, there really is NO point to this. Yes, Asians do have higher IQs on average, but it certainly doesn't say ANYTHING about individuals.</p>
<p>I know my point is most likely going to be misconstrued as some racist comment, but I am simply pointing to the statistics. As I've repeatedly said, this says absolutely NOTHING about what individual members of the race can do.
[quote]
also, its interesting, because the blacks that usually tend to be very smart come from African countries
[/quote]
Not according to Wikipedia.
The IQ scores vary greatly among different nations for the same group. Blacks in Africa score much lower than Blacks in the US. Studies on African Blacks have yielded results of 65 and 69</p>
<p>Again, just spitting out what the encyclopedia says. Don't shoot the messanger.
[quote]
I don't think genetics or race or whatever affects actual intelligence. Certain cultures embrace learning and education more than others. Some people genetically have the upper hand in terms of learning and intelligence, but there is no way you can generalize a whole race. I think culture has a lot to do with it. There is a major difference between doing well in school and being very intelligent. But some people and some cultures like to equate the two.
[/quote]
That is a pretty big contradiction. Your first statement, "genetics doesn't affect actual intelligence" is downright wrong. I agree with your second statement, some people ARE blessed with better genes. No denying it.</p>
<p>Regarding the generalization of entire races. That's what the wikipedia page with the IQ statistics does (In case you missed it, it is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29)%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29)</a>.
What you mean is, you cannot assume a certain individual is "smart" or "dumb" just because he/she is a member of a certain race. I agree with that.
[quote]
There is a major difference between doing well in school and being very intelligent.
[/quote]
The wikipedia page... It doesn't say anything about Asians doing well in school. It's all about IQ.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_intelligence_%28Average_gaps_among_races%29</a></p>
<p>Again, do not misconstrue my points. I am NOT stating that all Asians are more intelligent than all individuals of other races.</p>
<p>Asians aren't inherently smarter. They're just pressured by their parents. And I hate people WhO tYpE lYkE DiS. It's ASIANS, not AZNs. Learn to type</p>
<p>HAHAHAH...that has been one of the better points on this thread Venus...</p>
<p>If this were xanga, I'd be giving you two eprops right now =]</p>
<p>nvision, </p>
<p>I think I misconstrued what I meant. When I said that genetics or race doesn't affect intelligence I mean there are very few genetic differences between races. There isn't a massive biological difference between a black, Asian or white. Thats why I see it as strange to typify a certain race as generally being more intelligent. It would seem that there would be more cultural factors at play rather than downright genes.</p>
<p>good grades in high school doesn't show intelligence. it shows hardwork.</p>
<p>look at the nobel prize winners, and you'll see.</p>
<p>i'm an asian myself, not a racist.</p>
<p>I'm Asian. >/ And no I'm not that smart like the other Asians. ^_^; I just manage to get good grades. :[ To bad playing games on PS or Nintendo is not an academic course. Oh well. >/</p>
<p>I know Asians whose parents make them study ALL the time. Seriously. They won't be allowed to go out on a Friday night until they do at least a few hours of studying.</p>
<p>In my opinion, Asians are just more driven and academically focused. They don't get as distracted as easily.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say one race is smarter than another. Its just culture.</p>
<p>Say, from the beginning of birth, we put an black baby in a typical asian family and put an asian baby in a typical african family. By the age of 18, see who is more academically smart.</p>
<p>If the black person is smarter, then culture does indeed play a significant factor. (the experiment must consist of more than 1000 families)</p>
<p>That would definitely be an interesting experiment.</p>