Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences has been grasped by the education community as a wonderful and meaningful way to acknowledge, “We are not all the same, we do not all have the same kind of minds, and education works most effectively for most individuals if… human differences are taken seriously.” (Gardner, 1995)

Today’s education is riddled with funding issues, dropped music and art classes for economic purposes, and problems with lower test scores. Why aren’t new teachers using Howard Gardner’s “Multiple Intelligences” as a tool to reach as many students as possible?

The Multiple Intelligences are: Auditory, Kinesthetic, Visual/Spatial, Intraspective, Interspective, Logical/Mathematical and Linguistic. Gardner suggested three more intelligences-Naturalist- Natural Environment, Spiritual/Existential- Religion /Philosophical, Moral- Ethics, Humanity, Value of Life.

These last three “intelligences” are more difficult to assess, but have been recognized in people who have improved the quality of life for others.

Human differences, our uniqueness, offer valuable contributions to society. There is creativity in everyone. Studies have found that after the rigors of raising a family, or after retirement, latent talents have been discovered, and these talents were present throughout life, but not encouraged.

It is up to parents and teachers to provide intelligent environments. Many were educated with teachers and parents who did not encourage cultural diversity, and did not say they could draw a purple tree, or sing an off- beat song. They did not ignite their imaginations, and give them quiet time to process the world’s wonder and its’ opportunities. No, multiple intelligences was not stressed in the teacher education classes, or spoken in the Pediatrician’s office. School systems, so caught up in fiduciary problems, don’t even think about getting to the root of education, which is really teaching, tailored toward the child. The IEP’s (Individual Educational Plan) rarely include assessing the “talents” of the child and then incorporating that learning style into his curriculum. » Read more: Multiple Intelligences – Educational Success