Can progressives be convinced that genetics matters?
From the article:<p><i>Over the next year, a biosciences working group revised the program’s funding guidelines, stipulating in the final draft that it would not support any research into the first-order effects of genes on behavior or social outcomes.</i><p>The fact that this area is controversial suggests to me that it is worth exploration.<p>I’ve taught mathematics at community colleges for over 20 years and I’m absolutely convinced that not all people can learn algebra or calculus.  To me it is obvious this is so since the mentally disabled can’t.  There’s a level of “intelligence” that’s necessary to learn a given topic.  Not everyone can learn all topics.<p>This belief of mine is considered heretical amongst leftist colleagues (I’m a liberal myself on almost every issue).  As a college we act as if everyone can pass.  Years of administration telling the math department that our passing rate is too low have led me to pretty much pass everyone who takes the final exam.  Last semester 80% passed but only around 50% deserved to.