Are there too many tests at School?
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In the past decade testing children has become a regular feature on the parental calendar. On a term by term basis, children as young as seven are now increasingly tested and put through countless exams.
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Is it time to rationalise those exams, perhaps streamlining them or should the tempo be stepped up to push children further?
Education is a touchy subject in the UK. Aside from trade unions often complaining about one thing or another, the real focus should not be on their pay and conditions, but rather, the conditions in which children are taught. Moreover, the quality of the teaching, level of education and general attitude towards the 'bigger picture'.
If you were to take a like for like example with a child from China on a subject like Maths and a child in the UK both aged 8, the difference in ability would be startling. The Chinese pupil would in all likelihood be far more advanced in maths and probably a range of other subjects. So the question then that parents in the UK should be asking is, if they can do it in China, why can't they do it in the UK?
A fair point. Educational standards are important and there is no direct correlation between paying teachers more and educational performance. Infact all the evidence tends to suggest a very moderate increase. Let us forget for one moment that our politicians (for predominantly political reasons) tend to meddle with the educational curriculum on a quarterly basis, mainly for PR purposes. Sometimes allegedly even reducing the 'pass mark' and changing the 'grading scales' has been suggested in the past. That all aside, isn't it time we as a society stopped playing politics with our children's education and started focusing on excellence?
There has been much in the news of late regarding cuts to future schools budget. Some may find it surprising, to others, a natural course of action given the dire state of the British public finances. I guess blaming it on money is easy. The rich versus the poor argument is often stoked up in public debate. The reality tends to be that actually state schools have never had it so good.
The main principle here though is the fact that children are being tested too much, too young, as opposed to 'educated' at a higher standard. There is plenty of time to test, take exams and what have you once children enter their mid to late teens. The key should be to focus on producing a syllabus that is solid enough to educate children and more importantly equip children for a global 21st Century.
Are you a father or dad? Do you feel there are too many tests at School? Why not join us on Facebook and share you thoughts about this with us?
Education is a touchy subject in the UK. Aside from trade unions often complaining about one thing or another, the real focus should not be on their pay and conditions, but rather, the conditions in which children are taught. Moreover, the quality of the teaching, level of education and general attitude towards the 'bigger picture'.
If you were to take a like for like example with a child from China on a subject like Maths and a child in the UK both aged 8, the difference in ability would be startling. The Chinese pupil would in all likelihood be far more advanced in maths and probably a range of other subjects. So the question then that parents in the UK should be asking is, if they can do it in China, why can't they do it in the UK?
A fair point. Educational standards are important and there is no direct correlation between paying teachers more and educational performance. Infact all the evidence tends to suggest a very moderate increase. Let us forget for one moment that our politicians (for predominantly political reasons) tend to meddle with the educational curriculum on a quarterly basis, mainly for PR purposes. Sometimes allegedly even reducing the 'pass mark' and changing the 'grading scales' has been suggested in the past. That all aside, isn't it time we as a society stopped playing politics with our children's education and started focusing on excellence?
There has been much in the news of late regarding cuts to future schools budget. Some may find it surprising, to others, a natural course of action given the dire state of the British public finances. I guess blaming it on money is easy. The rich versus the poor argument is often stoked up in public debate. The reality tends to be that actually state schools have never had it so good.
The main principle here though is the fact that children are being tested too much, too young, as opposed to 'educated' at a higher standard. There is plenty of time to test, take exams and what have you once children enter their mid to late teens. The key should be to focus on producing a syllabus that is solid enough to educate children and more importantly equip children for a global 21st Century.
Are you a father or dad? Do you feel there are too many tests at School? Why not join us on Facebook and share you thoughts about this with us?
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