My, what a few months can do eh? (h/t Byron York)
With the birther issue finally put to rest, Donald Trump has now turned to Obama’s intellectual abilities: “I heard he was a terrible student.” That rumor — probably based on Obama’s comment in his memoir that he was not always an academic star — made Trump wonder how President Obama got into Columbia University and Harvard University Law School.
Trump claims that Obama’s earlier school grades, particularly at Occidental College prior to transferring to Columbia University, were lackluster and did not merit admission to Ivy League schools, hinting that Obama received special favor. Once again Trump is demanding proof — this time he wants to inspect Obama’s school transcripts. Should we be concerned? I think not.
The broader question is how meaningful or predictive is early academic performance. While there is generally a high correlation between early academic success with later academic performance and success in some aspects of life, there are notable exceptions. And these should make us wary of statistical analyses that apply to large groups but tell us little about individual cases. That’s why it’s better to evaluate the merits of present performance than to look at the past.
…Let’s begin with Sir Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists in the history of the world. Much of modern life runs on Newton’s discoveries. Yet Newton did so poorly in grade school that his teachers held little hope that he would improve his grades. One school report even called him “idle and inattentive.” Then there’s Albert Einstein, a scientific genius, equal to Newton. Einstein’s grade school performance was so bad that one of his teachers thought he was mentally retarded and advised him to quit school, adding that he would never amount to anything. Inventor Thomas Edison, who gave us the light bulb and other inventions (1,093 patents) that ushered in the 20th century, was called dull by a grade school teacher who believed that Edison had no ability to learn.
…What can we learn from all this? Mr. Obama: Don’t show us your school transcripts. Whether outstanding or not they don’t matter. Let’s focus on the now!
Better try again. He doesn’t have much going for him now, either.
Another comparison worthy of analysis would be the aggregate two year college students who, in the same academic year, attempted to transfer from non-ivy league schools into one of the Grande Ole Ivies and what was the minimal criteria for acceptance. I would suppose 6 hours minimum Aced in calculus would be a starter.
Am I imagining things or in one breath did someone actually compare President Obama to the likes of Newton, Einstein and Edison?
OK, there’s a possible link… each won a Nobel prize except for Newton who came along too early for a Nobel but at least he dabbled in alchemy a bit. Would this have anything to do with some continuing Nobel Committee/National Press Club agenda? “The Anointed One” is anointed yet again.
All the comments seem fixated on grades. (Though the fact that so many of our great leaders seem to have been poor students explains a lot). Wouldn’t it be more interesting to know what courses the sitting President took? Advanced mathematics? Sciences? Economics? Theory and Practice of Marxist Propaganda & Revolutions? What exactly did he study? The sitting president manifests no particular mastery of any field, no aptitude for negotiation or foreign affairs, no organizational skills, and no apparent interest in the details of law and governance. Manic indulgence in sports, partying, and campaigning almost seems like, oh, sublimation of activity to avoid substance. Has he ever applied himself to anything? The transcripts must be so impressive, that modesty prevents their release.