Manufacturing Brilliance: Why Create a Genius Child? Why do so many parents want genius kids?
By Sarah Michaelis
Robert Graham died a decade ago. You wouldn't know who he was unless you happened to be looking for sperm in 1980. Graham was a rich
optometrist who wanted to help mankind. So he opened a sperm bank.
This wasn't just any sperm bank. It only provided the sperm of the brightest and most successful businessmen, scientists and professionals, offering
equally brilliant women the chance to give birth to a genius.
He wanted to create a master race. Did it work? Despite dodgy ethics and obvious racism, 230 children were born. Of them, many are brilliant.
I have to wonder why so many women wanted a genius child. Sure many of Graham's kids are geniuses, but many are not any better off than us non-geniuses.
Some had miserable home lives because of domineering parents bent on making them reach their genius potential. As soon as they were able, they
rebelled.
Others struggled to make social connections at school and felt alone and isolated. And there were some who were brilliant in some areas
but severely disabled in others.
It's funny how so many parents strive for genius in their children despite the fact that they never came close themselves. Does a high IQ mean a better
life? Does it mean wealth and prestige? Does it mean happiness? Some may believe that it does but there's no real proof that's true.
Many geniuses never find wealth, prestige or happiness. Many live their lives misunderstood and isolated. There's a reason why most of us can count the
number of well-known geniuses on one hand. So what is the draw?
I guess we all want something better for our children. Some of us want children who never feel the hand of abuse. Some want children who excel at sports
because, in some circles, that means a better life.
Others want children who feel free to choose for themselves because their parents never could. And still others want their children to be successful at school because they themselves never were.
But our children have a way of making their own way.
Overall, even Graham himself declared his experiment a failure. Showing that despite the best intentions, life often has a funny way of evening out the
odds.
