There is a great debate in society that testing a child's intelligence creates social/emotional conflicts for the child. For one, if a child does not score high on a intelligence test that they begin to feel that they are not "smart enough". Two, the child may the feel that they were not given the chance to prove themselves because he or she was not able to perform to the best if their ability on the "IQ Test" due to the environmental factors facing him or her each day.
The next debate over intelligence is dealing with genetics. Meaning could race or ethnicity being a factor into intelligence. For instance, Jews and Asians have be know for years to be more successful in society due to the drive and mathematical intelligence of the two races. Next, there is the studies that have been done between African Americans and Caucasians showing African Americans having lower scores on achievement test than whites. However. that gap is steadily being closed.
For more information on the research of the IQ Controversy go to:
http://www.publiceye.org/magazine/v09n1/eugenics.html
I personally believe a child is going to excel in one area or another of intelligence. For instance, one might have a child that is smarter in mathematical or visual/spatial reasoning, a child might be good with words, another child might like to get his or her hands dirty in the soil for nature, one might have a child who is good at dancing, and another child might be able to help a friend with their problems these areas just mentioned are part of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory. This means that people excel in certain areas of intelligence more than others. I feel that people should be tested to find what areas they excel at and than let them pursue that area of talent, which is why I have no problem with magnet schools that provide this situation for children. What magnet schools do is they take an area of discipline like the arts, and provide students who are very cognitively inclined in that area and provide instruction in dance, music, acting, or writing while still maintaining the common areas of Language Arts and Mathematics.
For more information on Magnet Schools go to:
http://www.magnet.edu/
There shouldnt be a test for childfren IQ levls. The reason that I am saying this is because as you stated every child's ability is different. I had a child in my preschool class a few years back that was literally able to read college text books. However, he couldnt understand simple addition such as 1+2=3. There was another child in my class the following year that was a preschooler and he understood numbers and counting really well. His dad ran chicken races in the country and he was always around so he understood the numbers and how to add the score boards. However, he couldnt read. But this does not make any one of the children smarter or more capable than the other.
ReplyDeleteI really wish there were test when I was taking assessments. I can recall taking my ACT assessment, and I took this exam 4 times, and each time, I struggled with the math portion. It would have been wonderful to complete an assessment that highlighted my strong areas, and identified what my interest were, so that I could have focused more on them during my studies, rather than focusing on trying to "catch up" in the areas I did not enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI MUST take the time to express my sincere thanks. It has truly been a blessing learning, and gaining new ideas from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and love for education with me. I wish you all the best, and pray that we may accomplish everything that our hearts desire, and most all I pray you will continues to make our little people's worlds much brighter! Take Care, and again thank you!!!!
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