A study was unveiled last week suggesting that reading and math skills at age seven accurately predict your socio-economic status at the age of 42. You can read about it here and here.

I’m not sure this is that big of a surprise to anybody, considering the impact of poverty on students and their families (not to mention growing income and wealth inequality that results in reduced upward mobility — Note: the study is based on students in the UK, but they certainly face many of the same challenges that we face in the U.S.).

What was surprising — and disappointing — to me was that in their commentary about the study (though not in the study itself) they emphasize that the possible cause for their finding is genetic.

How could they be so oblivious to poverty, wealth inequality, and possible racism?