Commander Kinsey wrote:
On Mon, 28 Jan 2019 18:28:32 -0000, Chris wrote:

Wolf K wrote:
On 2019-01-27 16:09, Chris wrote:
Commander Kinsey wrote:
[...]
I assume you're referring to my statement about the IQ test. You do
realise that an IQ of 100 is the average?

It is a standardised average. Meaning that it is always 100, regardless of
any absolute changes in results. So killing off "idiots" will have exactly
zero effect on average IQ.

I recall reading a note a few years ago that claimed that actual
performance on IQ tests had risen about 10 points since the 1940s. IIRC,
similar observations have been reported for SAT and other "objective"
tests. [1]

Yes, *raw* scores are increasing; It's called the Flynn effect.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligence_quotient

My son once told me that J. Edgar Hoover's method of improving the
service was to fire everybody who was below average. Apparently he
couldn't understand why in the next round of tests there were people who
scored below average. I suspect it's an apocryphal tale, but it
illustrates a common misunderstanding about averages,

Yep. Our minister of education, no less, famously tried to make the claim
that all schools should be above average. With fools like him in charge
it's no surprise we're in a mess.

It's a very sensible thing to do. Everyone should strive to be better
than average. When I run a marathon, I try to be in the top 20%.

For an individual it makes sense to aim to be above average. For everyone
to do it nonsense.

Why do you think it's wrong to make every school better?

I don't, but that isn't what he said.