I think that in today's society people are quick to point out differences and compare children to one another. How do we test intelligence? I think that the holistic approach is the best way to assess children. I believe it is necessary to take into account the social, emotional, physical, and psychological development. These are important factors that play into standardized testing. The testing results are used to identify strengths and weaknesses.
England and Steffy (2001) talk about standardized testing and the effects it can have on students and teachers. I did my student teaching in a 5th grade classroom and there was so much focus on the CRCT. Most of the time I spent student teaching, I was helping to prepare the students in for the test. I saw the fear, anxiety, and worry among the students as it got closer to testing time. I think the test are great, but they is so much focus on the test. I agree children should be tested, but some children get anxious taking test that have so much at stake. Here in Georgia the students can be held back by failing the test in certain grades. My son is in 3rd grade and he has been stressing for two weeks about the Georgia Milestone test he is going to take this week.
The country I chose to research was China. I wanted to learn more about the ways they assess their students. In China they have testing prep schools. According to Larmer (2014), the students in China can spend 16 hours a day preparing for the tests. It is know as a "cram factory" Larmer (2014). They have a very long day of working on memorization for the test. I think this is good and bad. These people have so much pressure and spend so much time preparing for the test. The good thing is the students are learning, but I think 16 hours a day is way too long to be preparing for tests. Its like working 2 eight hour shifts.
Here in America, the students are assessed, but they do not have to spend 16 hours a day in school. I think China and America have similar ideologies. Both countries are extra focused on test prep. I have noticed a lot about the the testing being a teacher. Even in Headstart, children are tested for their abilities and put into different categories based on the criterion base. The results and statistical information of their scores is put into a spread sheet to see if they are developing properly. As a teacher, I think testing is important, but their intelligence should not be assessed only by testing.
References:
Larmer, B. (2015, January 3). Inside a Chinese Test-Prep Factory. Retrieved April 11, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/magazine/inside-a-chinese-test-prep-factory.html?_r=0
Steffy, B., & English, F. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved April 11, 2015, from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6g4InO8-QZIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=testing intelligence of children high stakes testing&ots=CyKBtnNAFh&sig=ylrLf62FPHFFpjC_8JcMzB7ut54#v=onepage&q=testing intelligence of children high stakes testing&f=false
