I agree with the basis of your theory but I think it is a bit more complex than this.
Previously I was in the "language first" camp, but a recent submission here has modified my beliefs on that. But I still think certain things must be learned in childhood to have a chance at reaching your maximum potential. For example, as far as I understand, unless you learn a language as a child you will never be able to get to native speaker level no matter how long you are immersed in the language (though you can probably get so good that only a native speaker would notice your mistakes).
I also think saying "if you work hard enough" is a bit of an oversimplification. Technically I believe that's true, but practically people first have to realize that they actually can learn X. For example, if someone was always taught X poorly they may assume they are incapable of learning it and, therefor, wont ever put in the work required (assuming the effort would be wasted).
I do think every non-mentally handicapped person has the same potential as a child [1], which is why investing heavily in teaching (and teaching of teaching!) is so critical. An average teacher can teach average people pretty well, but an outstanding teacher can teach anyone. I think a lot of people today assume those that "don't get it" are just genetically of lesser intelligence. In my experience their brains are just wired differently and because of that it takes a different strategy to get them to have the "aha!" moment.
I think the reason many people believe that some people are just genetically stupid is they look at e.g. what's happening politically in the US, how some of these people can't be reasoned with, make life changing decisions based on pure emotion, etc., etc. and just assume "well, they're simply too stupid to be capable of anything else". I think these people simply haven't learned how to learn nor how to reason. It may well be too late to reach them now but I think there was a time that each and every one of them could have been. And that's important to know when planning the future.
[1] Same potential as in: everything child A can learn/do adds up to the same value as everything child B can learn/do even if child A and B both excel at very different things. In other words, I think people's mind are different, I just don't think some people are genetically "stupider" and nothing can be done about it. In fact I consider such thinking self defeating and even dangerous.
Previously I was in the "language first" camp, but a recent submission here has modified my beliefs on that. But I still think certain things must be learned in childhood to have a chance at reaching your maximum potential. For example, as far as I understand, unless you learn a language as a child you will never be able to get to native speaker level no matter how long you are immersed in the language (though you can probably get so good that only a native speaker would notice your mistakes).
I also think saying "if you work hard enough" is a bit of an oversimplification. Technically I believe that's true, but practically people first have to realize that they actually can learn X. For example, if someone was always taught X poorly they may assume they are incapable of learning it and, therefor, wont ever put in the work required (assuming the effort would be wasted).
I do think every non-mentally handicapped person has the same potential as a child [1], which is why investing heavily in teaching (and teaching of teaching!) is so critical. An average teacher can teach average people pretty well, but an outstanding teacher can teach anyone. I think a lot of people today assume those that "don't get it" are just genetically of lesser intelligence. In my experience their brains are just wired differently and because of that it takes a different strategy to get them to have the "aha!" moment.
I think the reason many people believe that some people are just genetically stupid is they look at e.g. what's happening politically in the US, how some of these people can't be reasoned with, make life changing decisions based on pure emotion, etc., etc. and just assume "well, they're simply too stupid to be capable of anything else". I think these people simply haven't learned how to learn nor how to reason. It may well be too late to reach them now but I think there was a time that each and every one of them could have been. And that's important to know when planning the future.
[1] Same potential as in: everything child A can learn/do adds up to the same value as everything child B can learn/do even if child A and B both excel at very different things. In other words, I think people's mind are different, I just don't think some people are genetically "stupider" and nothing can be done about it. In fact I consider such thinking self defeating and even dangerous.