Recently, I have been doing EQAO practice work with students in a grade six classroom at my "basecamp school" (the school where I am considered staff). I have been set to work with a group of 9-12 students every other week. This time it was a group of nine students, all students I had worked with prior to today and were very familiar with me and with working on these booklets together.
While watching them all hold their heads up with their hands as they worked away at these Math questions, I got curious about their opinions towards the standardized testing of our Ontario government. I decided to interrupt them.
"I'm going to ask you a few questions. Just raise your hand if you agree and if you have an opinion to share, keep it up when I ask 'why?'. I'm not doing this on behalf of your teacher, this isn't part of the work we are supposed to be doing this morning, but I am curious and I want to hear what you guys have to say."
They gave one another some side ways glances as if their opinion was something they've never been asked to share and then put their pencils down to listen attentively (something that is otherwise a struggle with a group of pre-teens).
Me: Who gets nervous about EQAO?
Result: 4 out of 9 students put their hands up.
Me: Why?
Student (female): Because it will stay on our permanent record, people will look at it for the rest of our lives, maybe even colleges or jobs, we can't re-do it like we might be able to do with other tests if we fail because it's more than just a test, it's like the "ultimate test" and it will always stick around you.
Heartbreaking and not accurate. Can you imagine the stress that could cause a child if this is what they believe about standardize testing?
Me: Who thinks EQAO is a waste of time?
Result: 5 out of 9 students raise their hands.
Me: Why?
Student (male): Why would you get a grade three to write a test that colleges don't even check? This is elementary school. It shouldn't be so important.
Me: Who thinks that EQAO is a fair testing system?
Result: 4 out of 9 students, the same who said they get nervous about it, put their hands up.
Me: Why?
Student (male): Because you should be prepared for it, you're taught everything throughout the year, you should know the answers.
And for those who don't? Are they unprepared? Are they less smart? If they cannot retain information (that is usually not even used in later years of their life - does anyone still use long division daily?) does that mean they have not succeeded at their "goal" in that grade? So is the goal for grade three and six simply retention? Not creativity, not expression, not worldly knowledge, but retention of facts, figures and the like?
Me: Who has a suggestion for another way you could be tested?
Result: There were no suggestions.
Me: What do you think the purpose of EQAO is?
Student (female): To see how much information you remember from the year, how much you picked up and listened to.
Thoughts?
