Testing for Intelligence

            How is your child’s fate picked through the eyes of the government and the state? These are questions that many parents do not think about but research the purpose of a standardized test. A prime example would be the state tests that are currently keeping so many children from graduating or moving forward to the next grade. If they miss the recommended score even by a few points they are held back no matter what they grades looked like throughout the school year. I have seen honor roll students that do not pass the state test and are held back. I can see how this could frustrate a student especially seniors that thought they were going to graduate. The state tests are one reason that some students say that they quit and refuse to go back because they feel that they have worked hard all these years for them to get to the end and be withheld because of the state tests. I have heard students ask what the purpose of going to sit in classrooms and take tests if none of that counts at the end of everything. I feel bad for some of the students because everyone is not a good test taker but that does not mean that they do not know the information. I have also seen some students that did horrible throughout the school year and pasted the state tests with flying colors.

            When conducting research I saw that in England they have a test that is considered a nationalized test that replaces the standard pencil and paper tests. This test is used as the children curriculum and is to help them learn as well as to contribute to their development. I just personally do not see how testing children determines their level in life. I can see and understand how it helps learn the learning patterns of the individual children because every child is different. This means that everyone has a different lifestyle and learning style. Children should only be tested to see what working level they are on so that the teacher can know exactly how to help them. I feel like the statement of letting children is children have completely been thrown out of the door.

References

Rotberg, I. (2006). Assessment Around the World. NCLB: Taking Stock, Looking Forward    Pages 58-63. Volume 64 | Number 3