Class Argument

I have been studying animals in science class these days, and my teachers say that animals are actually very smart, but I kind of agree but kind of don't agree.

True, animals are pretty special and they can do some things humans can't do, but in my opinion, I wouldn't say that they are exactly smart. I think that the only reason people say they're smart is because before, everyone thought they were dumb, but once they started noticing that animals could just do the smallest things, people started calling them smart. 

So basically what I am saying is that people only think animals are smart is because they thought they were dumb.

However, I'm not saying they aren't smart, just my opinion.