Considering a commitment to viewing young children holistically (i.e., a commitment to “the whole child”), what, if anything, do you believe should be measured or assessed?
Every child is different, which means that we all learn differently as well and have areas that we are more and less successful in. In the US the educational system tests children from grade school on using one-dimensional standardized tests. I personally hate standardized test and for someone like me they did not show how intelligent I was in school, instead they made me nervous to the point where I would freeze and forget everything I studied. How are these test beneficial to someone who is nervous about the pressure of taking a test that can effect their education for life. Because these tests are so prevalent in American schools teachers are now forced to teach for these tests, they have guidelines and deadlines to complete certain subjects and have to move a long fast to teach all of this information in time for the exam. This is not fair for the teacher or the class. In many areas, especially New York where I am from, increased test scores have become the most important factor of school improvement. In turn administrators an teachers are under a lot of pressure to make sure that test scores go up. Which means that certain thing need to be cut and children are simple learning what is covered on the test.
My sister-in-law works in an urban elementary school in Schenectady NY, she teaches 5th grade. I decided to ask her about standardized testing and see how she felt about theses test, testing the whole child. She basically told me that she has children in her 5th grade class that simply can't keep up, she says that she prepares her children for months at a time for these tests. She has children in her class that read on a 2nd grade level, and children who do not use English as there primary language. She thinks that it would make a big different if a child was read the test, or the question was presented differently to them. Some children learn better that way. Just because John is at a second grade reading level doesn't mean that he is not smart or wouldn't understand the question if it was read to him. She also blames these tests for why she has so many students that can't "catch up". Because they are constantly being trained to take these tests and simply not learning anything of concrete value. She says a lot of teachers, teach using old tests and the children memorize information instead of learning it, how is this benifically to the child in the long run?
CHINA
Academics in China are completely different then in American, they score higher on tests, and on paper they are more intelligent then American students. The United States testing system seems like a joke compared to China, we are more relaxed and less disciplined then china. In the east testing is a part of the learning system, children have to pass rigorous tests, and the students themselves take testing seriously. They out score American students in tests which is leading our nation to ask many question. Why are American students falling so much behind their Asian peers? Questions like these are what is making the United States education system increase their testing and copy some methods used in the East. Testing in the United States are becoming more frequent and important then they were when I was in grade school. Where is the creative thinking in China and other eastern nations. Creative thinking is taken out of the equation and children in the East are thinking on a more concert level. Do we want to take this away from our children in American. This is the advantage that the United States has over nations like China, but if we keep cutting funding to these programs, are children are just going to end up as robots, all thinking a like.
http://www.theglobalist.com/storyid.aspx?StoryId=5264
"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."