Testing for Intelligence?

Testing seems to be the number one tool used to measure children’s knowledge. I understand the purpose of testing; however, I don’t feel that a child’s faith should rely only on one test. For instance the TAKS test, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. In certain grades and especially during the senior year in high school, students are required to pass all subjects. If a student doesn’t receive a passing score, they are not allowed to go on or graduate until a passing score is met. Although, TPRI which is Texas Primary Reading Inventory is used in early grades such as K-2 which is an assessment that measures reading and language arts development. I feel that test such as the TPRI are very essential to pinpoint and show a child’s weakness if there is a weakness. This test does not hold a child back from going to the next grade but is simple used to gauge development.

 In many ways schools all over the world are similar. All have their own forms of testing but one thing that is shared in common is the focus on reading, math and science. For instance, in Australia the assessment used is NAPLAN which is also known as National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN is an assessment that measures a student’s reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.

Lastly, I feel too much testing puts pressure on a child. Some people are simply not good test taker but are perfectly adequate in all of their academic subjects. I feel testing should be used for depicting strengths and weaknesses but not used to put unnecessary stress on a child.

http://www.garlandisd.net/departments/pre/glossary_assessment.asp 
http://www.naplan.edu.au/home_page.html