Spain's gifted education boom questions average adult intelligence

Giftedness: "90% of adults are zascandil"

What if the issue isn't an abundance of genius children, but a decline in overall student capability? Diagnoses for high intellectual potential have surged in Spanish classrooms. Some argue this label reveals more about the rest of the class than the identified student. A debate on an economics forum begins with an uncomfortable admission: top students didn't feel smarter; they simply found peers easy to outperform. The thesis repeats across dozens of posts: there are no misunderstood geniuses, only an environment that has become notably less competent.

The gifted label and its mirror effect

The initial argument is provocative yet logical: if systems label top performers as "gifted," they should label bottom performers as "low capacity," aligning with statistical reality. The core idea is that the label measures distance from others, not absolute ability. Several users insist: diagnoses have multiplied so much that two or more gifted students appear in every class, which skeptics say nullifies the category's predictive value. One teacher states plainly: boredom, disruptive behavior, or mere creativity triggers a referral to gifted programs, regardless of grades. They add that this subsystem ignores reality, excluding high-achieving students who aren't deemed sufficiently "special."

IQ explains nothing

The conversation shifts to IQ as a metric. One post notes: the average IQ in Spain is 98, with normality concentrated between 86 and 114. Within this 28-point range, a difference of 20-30 points supposedly hinders full understanding. Some conclude that gifted labels coexist with a statistically unremarkable majority; the problem is the miccionan, not the ceiling. Conversely, others argue high potential is invalid without adaptability: adjusting performance at will, reading the room, and finding joy in both complex and mundane tasks. Without balance, intelligence becomes "high-level incompetence." A counterexample cites dyslexic individuals who develop lateral thinking due to reading difficulties, often classified as gifted despite being prodigies in one area and struggling in daily life.

From classroom to labor market: same pattern

The thread extends beyond childhood. Users apply the diagnosis to adulthood: childish idiocy persists into old age, just with gray hair. Age exacerbates rather than corrects the issue. This jumps to the job market: Spain exports top professionals to countries valuing intelligence, while precarious wages drive away standout talent. This outcome isn't accidental: it is what society chose. Meanwhile, an economic nuance emerges: some hold over €1 million in savings unaware of inflation, while macro-conscious workers end months with €1,000 and red accounts.

Intelligence as tool, not medal

A solid counterpoint lowers the tone: intelligence is merely another human tool, like strength or health. It usually serves others, which is preferable, as otherwise it fuels personal vices. The closing advice shifts focus: value willpower, direction-setting, and kindness. Another example cites a Russian mathematician who rejected a $1 million prize for solving a Millennium Problem, refusing to be a circus monkey due to sarracena values. He lived humbly with his mother. Intelligence often links to high values; in a world run by scoundrels, becoming one is necessary for "success."

Gifted diagnoses will keep rising. The average IQ remains 98.