Having a parent as a teacher has taught me a few things about education. My mother is a first grade teacher and has been so for over 25 years. Growing up I always heard her complaints and frustrations with her class and the education system in general. What Howard Garner is saying in his description of multiple intelligences supports everything my mom has stated in the past and present. She always talks about how people don't seem to understand that everyone is different and therefore, everyone learns in way that is unique to them. Some children need one on one interaction, while others work best in a group. As a student myself, I have come to know what learning environment and method works best for me. I am a visual, hands-on learner who observes and then completes the task. If I would have been more aware of these qualities, I feel my life in high school could have been a lot easier.
My mom also talks about children who are at a disadvantage in school because of their home environment. Richard Davidson has alot of scientific research to back his statements up but my mom has case by case stories of children who are held back academically because of their unfavorable environment.