Stern Podcast "Die Boss" - The Gym Isn't Always the Best Choice - Why Gender Doesn’t Define Intelligence—But Education Systems Might Be Failing
In the latest episode of 'The Boss – Power Is Female', host Simone Menne, a prominent figure on corporate boards of companies like BMW, Deutsche Post DHL, and Henkel, interviews Professor Elsbeth Stern. Stern, a specialist in teaching and learning research at ETH Zurich since 2006, shares insights on intelligence and education.
Stern discusses her findings on gender and intelligence. She reveals that there are no significant differences in average intelligence between men and women. However, men are more likely to be found at the extremes, both in the lower and higher ranges. This is due to the normal distribution of intelligence, with 70% of people clustering around the average, and 15% each above and below.
She criticizes the current practice of sending half of all students to Gymnasium, the academic-track high school in Germany. Stern argues that this approach, which ignores the natural distribution of intelligence, is a 'perversion'. She believes it leads to frustration and underachievement for many students who are not suited to this path.
Elsbeth Stern's interview on 'The Boss – Power Is Female' sheds light on the distribution of intelligence and its implications for education. Her research, focusing on cognitive intelligence or IQ, highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to academic tracking. The podcast, released biweekly on stern.de, RTL, and major platforms, continues to provide insightful discussions with influential women.
