These two positions were designed to make possible grounded research in intrinsic motivation and community involvement. Her major responsibility is to document all the students' theme-based projects and maintain the school's video archives. To give more than lip service to multiple intelligences theory requires an investment in a staff that not only is qualified to teach the particular disciplines, but also can schedule adequate time for them to teach what they know. The staffing and the scheduling reflect the priority to provide all children equal emphasis in all seven areas of intelligence. The theory of multiple intelligences stimulates a wide range of interpretations.
Many educators use it as a new veneer over old practice.
Arts in education, gifted and talented education, and learning styles are examples of educational approaches that use the theory to justify what already is being done. The mental model we promote starts with multiple intelligences theory, makes a value judgment of equal emphasis on all seven areas, and establishes a priority by focusing on the student's area of strength. Consequently, the staff includes more specialists than normally is the case at the elementary level. The schedule is balanced to provide equitable time to all students with instruction across the seven areas of intelligence. In September 1993, with the support of superintendent Shirl E. Gilbert II, we opened a middle school, the Key Renaissance School, in downtown Indianapolis.