介绍:
Heyang: It is the end of the semester for Chinese schools, and the time of the year kids take their routine final examination. Recently some primary schools in Beijing have come up with novel ideas on how the exam should be conducted. It includes abolishing written tests…
So what are these new methods of testing and do you think it’s effective by just saying ‘no written tests?’
Laiming: Yes, I think it’s effective, it is.
Heyang: So you are for no written tests. (Laiming: Yes.)
Sam: I think it comes down to the clarity of the education of the school. Listen, when you get to junior middle school there are going to be some kids there who are just coming, they want those big challenges. They are just like bulls with steam coming out of their nostrils; they are hungry and raring to go. You don’t want to be the kid in class who can’t keep up. And if you are in a school and they are teaching you in a sufficient manner and you have all the skills needed, all the prerequisite skills to be able to compete with other kids in your class in junior middle school then fine! Then I am with Laiming, I am all for abolishing the end of terms tests.
But if you are not 100% sure you are going to be able to keep up with that young bull then as a parent you are going to want your kid to do an end of term test so he is pushing himself mentally for that test and mastering the skills needed for that next stage. As people who have been to university, I think we have all done a B.A and Masters, we knew that every stage was tougher than the last. It never got easier, it was never like ‘oh wow this is so easy, I am enjoying University to so much, I don’t do any work’. We know it is does not work like that. And since it is going to get harder you need to be ready at the end of each phase for the next one.
Heyang: Since it’s gonna get harder, when you’re in primary school or in the first few grades, maybe you can take it a light hearted way as it’s what the schools are saying right now. What do you think, Laiming?
Laiming: This new test is actually more challenging than what it used to be for grade one students. Previously, first graders have to be tested on Chinese language, English, or mathematics. And that’s it. Most people can score above 95 out of 100. Previously those written tests were not a challenge at all. As this new way of testing now, it seems to be quite challenging. Not only do they have to crawl through some obstacles in make believe snow, they also need to present some talk shows in front of teachers. They’re tested in an all-around manner. Not only do they have to be good at answering mathematics questions, they also need to be able to present their ideas better.
As a child, I did loathe competition in any manner.
Sam: It is a part of education you have to accept.
Laiming: That was exactly because I wasn’t encouraged in this manner. I tend to think if only I was encouraged to express myself more often when I was a child, I wouldn’t be struggling with maybe presenting myself in English now.
Heyang: You’re not struggling, you’re doing brilliantly. I think the education has done you pretty well. Sam, do you think there’s merit to this quite innovative way of testing?
Sam: Well, Laiming has kind of put me in a funny position here, cause I had no idea that these exams could be considered harder. Now, my problem is, even if they are harder, if it turns out I get to junior middle school, and everything I have learnt in those tests are not applied in junior middle school then I have learnt them for nothing because I am still going to have to be schooled on the traditional stuff in junior middle school. I am speaking from experience because I am a lefty. The problem as a lefty is I struggled a bit coming out of primary school because writing with your left hand you are naturally a bit slower and I had to really work hard to keep up with the kids who are right handed. It is only because of that I struggled to keep up from time to time and I wouldn’t want my kids to struggle to keep up with his peers and if this could cause that possibility I would be worried.
Laiming: I worry if these kids are not exposed to new modern ways of education, there will be more challenges later in their lives.
Heyang: Okay, it’s like a bright start of the topic of discussion, and we end up in the old note that is if the Gaokao doesn’t change, if the ways you are tested later on doesn’t change, then what is the point of this. Send us messages~ We want to know what you think. That’s all for today’s RT.
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