Americans' average IQ is in decline for the first time in nearly a century, according to a new study, a finding that comes as many schools gut curricula standards to promote so-called equity and inclusion.
Young Americans between the ages of 18 and 22 saw the biggest decline in IQ, according to a new study published in the psychology journal Intelligence and reported on by Campus Reform. The study's authors suggest that these IQ declines occurring between 2006 and 2018 may be due to poor-quality education.
The findings could indicate "that either the caliber of education has decreased across this study's sample and/or that there has been a shift in the perceived value of certain cognitive skills," according to the report.
The study comes as school districts across the country eliminate honors curricula from high schools in the name of racial equity. Culver City School District in Los Angeles caught backlash from parents of honors students who lost opportunities to enroll in accelerated programs.
"It's not working and we've thrown the baby out with the bathwater," said one Culver City parent.
Universities have also lowered their standards for admission, with the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University removing their entrance exam requirements.
Plaintiffs in the Asian-discrimination case against Harvard say that biases arising from subjective criteria such as "likability" could be eliminated by emphasizing objective measures such as exam scores.