Testing for Intelligence?

                   As we have learned over and over again each and every child is unique. They will grow, develop, and learn in their own ways. If this is the case then how do we expect them to take the same standardized tests?  Some children will excel at it, while others will not. I do believe that children should be assessed and tested on all the major subject. Assessments give teachers vital information they need to see where they child is academically. Assessments show teacher’s children’s strengths and areas where students need extra help. I believe instead of making the children assimilate to the test we should assimilate the test to the children.

            I remember when I was in high school my brothers and I were all in the same grade, I have a twin and my older brother was held back a year early in elementary school when they were diagnosed with dyslexia. My brother was still struggling and failing his biology tests. My mother went to talk to the teacher to see if they can figure out what was going on because he was doing the work and studying so hard for the tests. They were all in a meeting when the teacher asked my brother questions from the test and he got every one of the questions the teacher asked him correct. From that day forward he was able to take his tests orally and passed the class with flying colors.

            I also believe that teachers should not just use one standardized test to assess a child’s knowledge. This one standardized test that starts in third grade should not be the only thing used to assess a child. Many children show they have the knowledge of the subject they are testing on but come test time the anxiety of test taking can make them sabotage themselves or they may just not test well. It is vital to test children’s knowledge but I do not think with standardized testing we accomplish the goal of truly testing each child’s knowledge.

Finland

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD, ranks Finland in gold standings in public education. Even though Finland has done away with standardized testing. In Finland, during the 80’s they reformed all of their public schools. During this time they all but abolished standardized testing.  “Finland has few private schools and the rest are public and tuition is free. Virtually every school is a ‘charter school’ in the sense that teachers and principals are given the freedom to devise methods that they believe work best for the particular students in their own school” (Davidson, pg. 1, 2012). In Finland, to be a teacher you must have a Master’s degree. I believe we in the United States can learn a lot from Finland. We need to get away from all this testing mania and find ways to help children learn to their fullest potential and teach the child, not teach the test.

Brandie

Resources

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/what-us-can-learn-from-finland-hong-kong-on-tests-equity/2012/01/11/gIQAlVqttP_blog.html