I'm led to question again what exactly that testing does for us. Maybe I'm totally way off base, but it seems that part of the reason for it is to show in what areas you have strengths and to predict future career choices, etc. Am I totally wrong in thinking that's part of the reason for it? You know, besides competing with your friends about who has the best score of course. Cause it's totally the basis by which all intelligence is measured! But I digress.Now here's the reason I'm pondering on this subject tonight - I'm going through my old scrapbooks and scanning in my pictures and other memorabilia to be able to have electronic copies of them because that's the thing to do now-a-days right? Well, I just came across my "SAT" from 8th Grade. One of those pre-testing things where they're trying to prepare you for the 'real thing' or make you feel smart of stupid or something. And I'm looking through my scores and laughing. I will admit, I got some pretty decent scores. In fact, all but one of them were in the 'above average' range. (I only say this to help make my point.) My one score that was not in the above average range was in the category of.............................................Listening.
This gives me cause to reflect on my chosen career choice. And I think, hmmmmm.....either the testing maybe doesn't do all that it says it does, or I totally chose the wrong career and I'm horrible at my job and should probably throw away those two degrees and start over. Deliberating....deliberating....
2 comments:
The purpose of those tests is to check our "color inside the lines" skills.
Haha! That makes me laugh because I remember in high school, knowing I was wanted to be a counselor, and getting above avg. in every subject except Social Sciences....I was BELOW avg. I remember feeling a little sad that my fav. subject was the one I sucked at....but it didn't bother me too much.
And I still think that YES standardized testing still has its place. Most valid for comparing large groups of children to other large groups of children. If one school has 90% of their children performing great, and 90% of the children in another school are under performing, then (obviously) you would need to take a look at that school and make some changes. Individually, not really so valid, I agree. BUT in an assessment of the child it could be used to collaborate with other information....so I still don't think it's useless even on the Individual basis; it just doesn't deserve as much focus and attention as it is getting.
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