Testing for Intelligence?

 

 

                                                                                                                

I believe that children’s intelligence and achievements should be measured. According to, The developing person through childhood, “People assumed that, for intelligence, one general aptitude (often referred to as g, for general intelligence) could be assessed by answers to a series of questions testing vocabulary, memory, puzzle completion and so on. “(Berger, 2018). I believe it is vital to measure a child’s intelligence to better understand what can be expected from a child. However, when doing so it is important to remember that children differ in their skills and talents. One child could excel at math, but another excels in art. I believe not one test should be used when measuring a child’s intelligence. However, an intelligence test should only be used as a tool and not as a final rule of placement. I do believe a child’s vocabulary, oral language, written language, mathematics, and reading should be measured. Another, important reason to measure a child’s intelligence and achievements is to diagnosis their disability. Although, a doctor will use various other ways to diagnosis a disability an intelligence test is a tool that can be used. Once an intelligence test is taken by a child to assist with a diagnosis treatment and services can be determined for that child. I believe children should have their intelligence tested to determine how smart they are compared to the standard.

However, I do believe that an intelligence test will only determine a fraction of how well a child will do in life. There are other factors that determine a child’s future. For example, social class, environment, and education influence a child’s life. Another factor is a child’s emotional intelligence. According to, EQ vs IQ: Why emotional intelligence will take your kid further in life, “Since its release, study after study has proven EQ’s importance: that emotional intelligence predicts future success in relationships, health and quality of life. It’s been shown that children with high EQs earn better grades, stay in school longer and make healthier choices overall (for example, they are less likely to smoke); teachers also report that high-EQ students are more co-operative and make better leaders in the classroom.” (Kadane,2020). I believe an emotional intelligence test should be used when testing a child’s intelligence.

It is essential that those individuals that provide test take into consideration that there are things that can influence a test score. According to, What’s the score? Problems with IQ tests for kids, “Additionally, factors like distractions, anxiety, and stress are not taken into account in this scoring system and could drastically affect a child’s performance on any given day” (Oxford Learning, 2015). I can recall as a child being extremely nervous during intelligence and achievement testing. I was an overweight child and physical testing brought on a lot of anxiety for me. I believed in my mind that I could not do well and tried less.

In a few weeks, I will be moving to Sicily, Italy. In Sicily, Italy children begin their education at nursery school, (scuola dell'Infanzia) while between the ages of 3 to 5 and half. After nursery school, children attend primary school (scuola primaria) till around age 11. Children that are between the ages of 11 to 14 will attend middle school which is called first grade secondary school (scuola secondaria di primo grado) or lower secondary school. According to Education in Italy, “At the end of the third year, students sit a written exam in the subjects of Italian, mathematics, science and a foreign language. There is an oral examination of the other subjects. Successful students are awarded the Licenza di Scuola Media (Licenza Media). They then move onto the Scuola Secondaria di Secondo Grado (Second Grade Secondary School)” (Understanding Italy, 2010). Therefore, school age children are assessed when they are on their way to high school. The exam that youth in Sicily take upon their departure from middle school sounds especially important for the direction in which their life will go. Unfortunately, the test does not include an emotional intelligence as well.

An additional comment that I would like to share with my colleagues is to remember that using one single test to determine the intelligence of one child is a terribly way to understand the needs of a child. Also, not allowing that grades that a child receives in certain subjects to determine how to treat a child in all subjects. There will always be children that are amazing in one subject and not in another. I believe it is important to encourage to children to follow their passions. Also, to help children discover which subjects they want to have a passion for.

References

1.      Oxford Learning. (September, 2015). What’s the score? Problems with IQ tests for kids. Retrieved from: What’s The Score? Problems With IQ Tests For Kids | Oxford Learning

 

2.      Berger, K. S. (2018). The developing person through childhood (8th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

 

3.      Kadane, Lisa. (August, 2020). EQ vs IQ: Why emotional intelligence will take your kid further in life. Retrieved from: EQ vs IQ: Why emotional intelligence will take your kid further in life (todaysparent.com)

 

4.      Understanding Italy. (2010) Education in Italy. Italian education system, italian schools, schooling in italy, Italian nursery school, primary schools in italy, italian middle school, high school, secondary schools in italy, vocational studies in italy, academic schools, Italian universities (understandingitaly.com)