The Myth of the Normal Curve

by Curt Dudley-Marling (Editor), Alex Gurn (Editor)

It is generally taken for granted that human behavior distributes along the lines of a bell-shaped, normal curve. This idea underpins much educational theory, research, and practice. There is, however, a considerable body of research demonstrating that the normal curve grossly misrepresents the human experience. Yet the acceptance of the normal curve continues to be used to pathologize children and adults with disabilities by positioning them as abnormal. Collectively, the contributors to this volume critique the ideology of the normal curve. Some explicitly challenge the assumptions that underpin the normal curve. Others indirectly critique notions of normality by examining the impact of normal curve thinking on educational policies and practices. Many contributors go beyond critiquing the normal curve to propose alternative ways to imagine human differences. All contributors agree that the hegemony of the normal curve has had a devastating effect on those presumed to live on the boundaries of normal.

Genres: Education

262 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of articles critiquing the bell curve and its historical inequalities. Great read for teachers or anyone going into the field of education.

[Alaska Hults · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read for anyone working with emerging bilingual students in U.S. public schools. My only regret in reading this book was that I read it alone. It is an edited volume of chapters that are clearly written to be discussed. There is significant overlap between the ideas covered in each chapter--very helpful for the novice researcher coming from an elementary, mainstream classroom background--which develop the ideas from different directions. The early chapters on the historical nature of the IQ test, the "normal curve", and their links to eugenics and racist thinking in education are crucial to understanding the importance of the rest of the book. And, a small thing perhaps, Peter Lang, thank you for publishing this book in a sturdy binding with quality weight paper. I've come away with a sizable new reading list and I expect to be referring back to the book frequently. I'm glad to know it won't fall apart and my many notes will not bleed through to the other side.

[Fiona Robison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really long book to take in in just a week. I needed to listen to as much as I possibly could before our book club discussion. I’m glad I did. I am generally not interested in any books that you would consider self-help. I prefer to read for pleasure and escape. But this author was able to talk about a lot of things that I really care about. About what happens to our brains as we are in utero, infancy and as a child and how those experiences can have, and do have long-term effects. As I battle cancer, I can’t help but to think that there probably is some truth to the level of stress and potential hidden traumas I have had that have had a negative affect on my body. If I continue the same course without some sort of change, the impact of the mind on the body could potentially be causing myself more harm. This book has helped me to pause and reflect, and realize that I need to give more credence to the power of the mind on our overall health. I am planning to buy the hardcopy so that I can read it more slowly with a highlighter. I would also like to share it with others, especially my daughters in law, as they look forward to raising their own children and realize the impact that mothering with as few electronics and more eye contact and touch will have on their children’s futures. As mentioned previously, this is not your run-of-the-mill self-help book that you can read the first few chapters and know everything that the author has to say. He has many examples, throughout the book of people who were able to change their lives for the better upon realizing that the body does keep the score. He quoted many of the other popular books of this era but added much information ands kept me interested through all 18 hours. I will admit I didn’t care for his politics, but his references were free enough that it didn’t make me question his overall premise. I highly recommend it.

[Megan Cartier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-read. I'm also blessed to work closely with several of the contributors in this book.