Considering a commitment to viewing young children holistically (i.e., a commitment to “the whole child”), what, if anything, do you believe should be measured or assessed? Explain your reasoning.
I believe that a child’s physical health should be assessed; there are numerous benefits of being physically healthy as well as hazards to not being physically healthy. Children who are overweight and or obese my suffer from low self-esteem, which leads to them being abnormally mentally stressed. Children who have a low self-esteem also lack confidence; this may affect the way they perform in school. They may have lower grades or may get into trouble at school due to bullying others; hurting others before they are given an opportunity to hurt them. Researchers increasingly recognize that every physical and psychological characteristic of children-including obesity, high blood levels of lead and mental health problems-is affected by the social context and, in turn, affects that context (Jackson & Tester, 2008). There are other physical conditions that may affect the learning potential of a child. Other conditions include Tourette syndrome, stuttering, physical ailments (missing or inoperative limbs) or children who wear glasses. Poor health does in fact affect the child as a whole.
In what ways are school-age children assessed in other parts of the world? (Choose a country or region of the world for which you have a personal affinity.)
School-aged children in Cuba are not per say assessed using standardized testing due to the lack in resources.
Their school system lack funds to provide adequate education to their children; at least that is how it seems it should be. However children are assessed by how well they can read. Prior to the revolution in Cuba only about 3% of the children were literate, now there is an astounding 97% of children who are literate.
Education is such a top priority in this country that for eight months all of the schools were closed, and teachers were sent out to the homes of children living in the rural communities to teach the children.
This made it much easier for them to continue to work in the fields and receive an education at the same time. This country’s produces thousands of individuals that pursue careers in professional careers such as doctors.
They are really pushed to go on to college to further their education and be successful, so much so that many go to medical school for free.
What additional ideas, comments, suggestions, examples, and/or concerns related to assessing young children would you like to share with your colleagues?
I believe that the child should be assessed holistically because there may be some factors in their personal life that can affect the way they perform in school. Children that are overweight in school should be required to receive assistance with weight loss. If schools provided children with this tool it would help these children greatly in their life. It could possibly prevent them from developing diabetes, some cancers, high blood pressure or high cholesterol in their adult-hood. For an example, I went to high school with a girl who was overweight from the time we were in elementary school and all throughout high school. She was picked on all of these years because of her weight and ended up dropping out of high school. Unfortunately she passed away at the age of 25 from complications with diabetes. If someone would have reached out to her while she was in elementary school or middle school, she could possibly be alive today.
Reference:
Jackson, Richard J.J., & Tester, June. (2008). Environment shapes health, including children's mental health. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 47, 129-131.
