I just came back from a visit to planet Zarg. We could learn a thing or two from these guys.
In the schools on Zarg, they measure kids, just like we do on Earth (well, in some places on Earth). The inhabitants of Zarg studied the views of former Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. From her, the Zargians learned that "what gets tested gets taught." So, following her advice, they created assessments that measure all of these things:
curiosity
creativity
tenacity
honesty
compassion
ability to get along well with others
When parents meet with their kids' teachers on Zarg, they talk about test scores, just like we do here on Earth. But the tests aren't like the multiple-choice tests we use on Earth. Their tests ask students to work on projects, to create things of substance in collaboration with others, and then to report and reflect on the process they went through in creating them. The Zargians value curiosity, creativity, tenacity, honesty, compassion, and the ability to get along well with others. They believe that young people, endowed with these traits, stand a greater chance of being happy, successful, productive citizens. So they create measures to see how well students are acquiring these valued traits.
What do we on Earth value? No matter what we say we value, our tests speak louder than our words. So what values do our tests reveal? That learning can be reduced to a correct answer on a multiple-choice question.
1 comment:
hmmm we thought you are truly worthy of a comment.It's a shame knowbody else does. We home educated due to some of your points. I belive that schools are a government institution of reform and control. My home educated child has maxed out the IQ test on every subject (which they say has never been seen before)and is compleatly happy and healthy! But he was used as a teaching assistant to bring the others up. Due to the non existant support for gifted children in the UK, one of the greatest assests to the world was being wasted! I think that says alot! :) I fear the out come of schools is a civilization of zombie robots, with little emotion or humanity left, used for the financial gain of the few to the greatest detriment of us all. Save our children. x
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