Ep 9. Beaver's I.Q.

Beaver's I.Q. is the ninth episode of season four of the classic family sitcom, Leave It to Beaver. The episode originally aired on December 3rd, 1960, and was directed by Norman Tokar.

In this episode, Beaver finds out that he has an IQ score of 120, which puts him in the "gifted" category. His teacher encourages him to take a test to get into a special school for talented children. Beaver is excited about the idea of going to a different school, but his family is hesitant to let him go.

Ward and June worry that the school will be too different from their own experiences in education and culture. June in particular is anxious about Beaver being labeled as "different" and potentially shunned by his peers.

Meanwhile, Beaver's brother Wally is less supportive of the idea. He is concerned that Beaver will become too stuck up and distant if he goes to a school full of smart kids.

Despite their concerns, the family agrees to let Beaver take the test and see what happens. Beaver gets nervous during the test and ends up scoring a lower score than he did on his previous IQ test.

Feeling disappointed and rejected, Beaver starts to question his own intelligence and abilities. He avoids his friends and family, convinced that he is no longer special or talented.

As always, the Cleaver family rallies around Beaver to help him through his struggles. Ward and June take Beaver on a special outing to help him feel better and remind him that his worth is not determined by his intelligence or school grades.

At the end of the episode, Beaver's teacher tells him that his lower test score was likely due to nerves and that he is still a very bright and gifted student. The family is relieved and happy to hear this news and Beaver is reassured that his worth is not tied to his IQ score.

Overall, Beaver's I.Q. is a heartwarming episode that reminds us of the importance of family support and self-acceptance. It also touches on themes of social pressure, intelligence testing, and the flawed nature of standardized assessments. The episode showcases the strong bond between the Cleaver family and their unwavering love and support for one another, even in the face of personal struggles and adversity.