Book from my Student Days

I remember reading a book (or at least a short story) in school - say 8th or 9th grade.. Trying to find the name and author so I can re-read..

The basic premise was this: Assimilating the community to achieve perfect communism. In other words, "dumbing down" the smart people so that everyone had a fair shot. I remember kids participating in a school race, the faster children being electrically shocked so that they didn't get too far ahead of the slower kids. I also remember other kids wearing shocking helmets that would lower their intelligence if they said something too smart, also to keep them level with the lower educated.

Anybody? Any ideas? I really wish I remember who wrote it ... or even more details about it...