ANN, on Feb 19 1998 you wrote in Serendip Forum,

hi. my name is anne and i'm a senior in high school and i'm new to this whole internet thing... in my psychology ap class, i have to debate whether or not intelligence can be increased... if anyone can tell me of sites where i can get stats and info for my debate (i argue the side that it can not be increased), please let me know...

Anne, I'd suggest you look up this subject in regular libraries. However, for your own advance in "this Internet thing," practice finding sources. Go to askjeeves and ask for the word 'inteligence': you'll get results on sources (web sites) dealing with military intelligence. Therefore, try something different, like mind, mentality, understanding, learning... After all, intelligence is defined as the ability to learn and understand.

My impression is that genes prescribe the maximum capacity to develop intelligence. The exposure to appropriate heuristic and empirical experiences will determine the degree to which such capacity is exploited. It should be clear that individuals with innate intellectual capability in the upper echelons of the --'bell-shaped'-- Gauss curve have a better chance of fulfilling their capacities, to the point of being in good part autodidacts.
Those less endowed require devotion and encouragement from capable people, not only for enhancing their intelligence to the possible maximum, but also to prop up their intellectual self-respect.