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Oh screw the WPPSI and all other tests
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Anonymous
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I am so frustrated with all this testing that goes on around here. When I grew up and where I grew up there were never any tests. Why are there so many tests and evaluations for such young children in this area? My sister lives in another state and she was shocked to hear that I have had to subject DS for IQ tests for admittance into school.
Are there any schools in VA/MD/DC that are good schools and do not require any testing? |
Anonymous
I think WIS doesn't require testing for pre-K and K. |
Anonymous
| British School of Washington (at least it didn't require tests when we looked) |
Anonymous
ummm..... there was too testing when we grew up -- maybe not where you grew up, but here in the DC/MD area the PUBLIC schools gave IQ testing. I remember because I was pulled aside by the guidance counselor for a meeting with my parents and the counselor the subject of which was "why aren't you getting better grades" (put together at the behest of the counselor, not my parents). During the meeting she pulled out my IQ score/testing (which must have been given in elementary school) and demanded to know why I wasn't living up to my potential. All students were IQ tested by the public school back then. Kids also had to take tests for private school entry even way back then. Not that I disagree with you necessarily about the value of testing, just that the good old days weren't necessarily better... |
Anonymous
| Lowell school does not require testing |
Anonymous
| While I take your point about these tests taking on ridiculous meaning, I don't feel like the wpsii was in any way traumatizing. My son thought it was fun. So there is certainly no reason to limit yourself based on fearing taking the test. If you have concerns don't accurately measure aptitude, you can always go with a school that doesn't demand the scores. Just my 2 cents. |
Anonymous
| Green Acres |
Anonymous
| If you want to play the game, you have to play by the rules. |
Anonymous
| The IQ testing that many of us had in ES was from the scores of common standardized tests like the California Achievement Test, Iowa Test of Basic Skills and others. Most kids took these in the upper elementary grades as a group. I think the OP hates that preschoolers are required to take IQ tests to get into pre-K and K which is absurd. Haven't they determined that these tests are really reliable until at least age 6 or so? There is a big difference between sitting a 3 yr old down in a testers' office w/o their parents to test them and expecting a 9 or 10 yr old to take a test in his/her classroom. |
Anonymous
While there is a big diff between the 3 and 10 year old, my 4 year olds took the test w/o us present when we were going through process. My son complained, but he did it. My daughter had a grand time. There was a little bribery involved with my son. I don't necessarily like it, but I accept that if we are going to apply, we have to do these things. And I was a kid who did NOT take any standardized test till 9th grade b/c my parents found them abhorrent. I agree with them, so that is why we are going independent route, even if it involves clearing the hurdle of the unreliable IQ test. |
Anonymous
| PP- Just curious how long it took for your 4 yr to take the test? Is it a test where if you keep getting questions correct, they ask more questions? My son is 4 and is going to take it this fall and he is smart enough to answer questions wrong or say he doesn't know to make it go faster! Do testers just sit there and ask questions or do they make it a game and try to keep the child engaged? My son is the type to play along for a little while but then be more interested in stuff in the tester's office than in a bunch of questions. |
Anonymous
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Why does testing for schools bother you? We all put our kids through all sorts of tests (medical, hearing, vision). In fact, the school "playdates" are really a form of test too. So why does one extra test that tries to assess the child's aptitude for learning bother you?
Taking the WPPSI is a lot less traumatic (and maybe even fun) for kids than most of the tests at the doctor's office. It's far more stressful for parents than for kids. Also, I know the tests are questionable in their ability to predict academic success, and I'm sure the schools know that too. But how can anyone object to one extra data point when trying to pick a small class from among dozens of children. I just don't understand the philosophical objection some people have to the tests. But maybe your objection is not philosophical. I agree that it's annoying to have to arrange for another test, and take child to the test. And I agree it's worrisome for parents to wait for results. If you're venting about those minor annoyances, I totally understand and empathize. |
Anonymous
| I agree that the WPPSI is not a big deal; would not throw it in the same basket as the fill-in-the-bubble testing that lies down the road. |
Anonymous
I don't know all the facets to the WPPSI. We signed up for it, made sure he had a big breakfast, then drove to the office. He was gone for about an hour. The tester was a woman, who appears to have a good rapport with young children. I don't think it operates in the way that correct answers yield more questions. I believe the tester is measuring ability in a range of areas. Verbal, ability to detect patterns, etc. You can google and learn more about the test specifics. I do think there are some socioeconomic biases in the test, which I don't like. |
Anonymous
Except that kids are 3 and 4 yr old taking the first test and 10 yrs old or so taking the second. There is a very big difference. And the WPPSI costs quite a bit of money to administer right? Since it is an individual test? That shuts out many families who might want to apply to the private schools that require it. There's that and the fact that they are still requiring it when it isn't reliable at that age. Silly. |