When
looking at a child’s education holistically, we must consider what that sort of
education would entail versus a more traditional approach to learning. While
researching holistic education approaches, what seems to be the commonality is
that children who learn holistically are learning to see the meaningfulness of
what they learn. Holistic learning is also helping children to have flexibility
when learning. Standardized testing expects children to learn the same thing
and the same pace and to comprehend the material at the same rates. As an
educator and someone who has had to take multiple standardized tests in the
past, know that children learn at different rates and speeds, and understand
things on a different level than their peers. It is easy to label a child who
is very capable and smart with this standardized test as a child that is
lacking skills and the know all of their age group, but this is a
misconception. What should be measured
when a child is assessed to make sure they are maturing and learning at an
appropriate rate is of course, the basics of math, science, reading/language
arts and social studies/history. With that said, it should be what the children
are learning in that particular region and of what they have already learned.
Children should not be made to feel inadequate of learners because they are
getting tested on material they do not understand and have yet learned. In
addition to the basics of testing, children should be assessed in a natural
social setting to see how they are coping with being in a social society;
emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Asking behavior building and
character building questions could help the child with emotional and possibly
spiritual growth. Children learn in more ways than the standard subjects in
school. To understand the whole child, they child has to learn in an
environment that understands they are not standard, but unique and growing at
their own pace.
I
looked at an article of children being tested and taught in France. The French
have a much different approach to teaching and giving standardized tests.
Teachers in France are rarely fired or dismissed, and they expect children to
dictate and learn in an all-inclusive, teacher directed atmosphere.
International schools are great for short-term use of 5 years or less, but
private schools and French schools are for children staying in the country who
plan on learning French, since that is the primary language. Teachers are not
really held to any great standards of teaching, and the children are expected
to understand, keep up, and know all educational standards for their grade
until about age 14-15 when they take a standardized test. If a child doesn’t
pass this test, they are held back with younger children. Before the big
standardized test between the ages of 14-15, “At the end of each term there's a
conseil de classe - a meeting of teachers and parents' and pupils'
representatives - at which each class and each pupil are assessed.” (Laredo,
2013) This is very vague to me, because it is not really explaining what is
being tested, but it seems that France really is big on language and math.
References:
Laredo, Jo. 2013. Education in France. Paris Voice. Retrieved from:
http://www.parisvoice.com/practical-paris/474-education-in-france
