When it comes to assessment, there is one question that begs to be answered. Are we assessing the performance or the child? Is the child short-changed before the tests even begin, because the school staff knows they are not prepared to take this test and measure up to state, local, or in-house standards? Is the school prepared for what to do when the same child or children fails? Therefore, have they been properly assessed? Was it a bad day? How does it reflect on the school? There are so many unanswered questions, with regards to assessment and the ultimate question-is it fair? Is it a fair and logical test to measure capabilities, learning level and advancement?
The Department of National Testing is responsible for testing children in the Dominican Republic. Their tests are used to measure curriculum and teacher training, as opposed to measuring the child. Additionally, where our children are being tested in 3rd and 4th grades, children (rather students) in the Dominican Republic are not being tested until the 8th grade, in high school and the equivalent to an adult equivalency test.
Personally, I agree with the latter type of testing for a number of reasons. The first being, it makes more sense to test the childen to assess the teacher’s ability to teach and get the subject matter across, rather than grouping them into one category that they must perform as such to fit in. Again, we are categorizing and stigmatizing children with an unnecessary need to do so. Finally, testing children at such a young age puts them in a position to experience undue stress and further lack of proper resources, such as nutrition, books, familial support, access to the internet, and most noticeably finances.
Ferrer, Guillermo (2006). Educational assessment systems in latin america. Retrieved from http://www.uis.unesco.org/Education/Documents/Ferrer.pdf February 11, 2012
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