I am interested in emotional intelligence. According to the website I read, self-awareness, managing emotions, empathy, communicating, co-operation and resolving conflicts are the examples to be considered. I believe such social skills and morality should be measured because I feel that these are essential for people to live together with less trouble and conflicts. To me, these are what I want children to learn first and best.
In Japan, we have IQ tests and many subject-tests which are done nation-wide by private companies so that we know where each child stands. This makes business sense because parents who try to enroll children into famous private preschools or elementary schools by training children for the entrance exams are increasing. So the parents pay to understand their child’s strengths and weaknesses.
As to the moral education, we do not have a test but elementary school has morality classes once per week. I personally like this approach since I think education that is focused on making children proper adults is more important to me than only teaching subjects.
Reference
McCluskey. A. 1997. Emotional Intelligence in Schools. Retrieved on December 8, 2011, from http://www.connected.org/learn/school.html
Ayako,
ReplyDeleteEmotional intelligence is a very important aspect to be measured. Children who are emotionally stable and confident tend to be better is social situations also. This idea would be important as they grow in to adulthood and are better able to adapt to working with others. I like the moral education classes that you spoke of. Here in our school district they are called "Character Education" classes. In the private Christian school that I taught in, morals and good choices are a part of every aspect of our curriculum! That made it easy to teach morals without the social implications of political correctness, so to speak. Of course, that was from a strictly Christian view.
Nice post! :)
Ayako,
ReplyDeleteI think it is wonderful that the children have to go to a moral education class. It saddens me to see children today with no morals, values, or self-worth. I can remember my teachers teaching us to respect people around us especially adults, I guess they don't have time to teach that anymore because they are too busy trying to get children to pass an end of course test. I also like how they perform the IQ test on children, that information can help both the parents and teachers. I would use that information and build on it by individualizing my students work.
Ayako,
ReplyDeleteI wonder how those children are effected by a bad day or poor test taking skills. Seems to me that a child should have some say in their future beside scoring good on a standardised test.
I also like the the fact that school offer moral teaching but once again I fear we are oversteping. Who am I to pass of a set of moral standards. I am have never received foramal training on how to teach morals. Back in the day it was up to your parents, elders and clergy to make sure you were morally sound.
Teachers are taking on the roll of parents! We are responzible for feeding, cleaning, teaching, and educating children for eight to ten hours a day. What are the parents teaching there children!
I found it interesting that elementary schools have moral education classes one a week. This seems to speak to the idea that "it takes a village to raise a family". Moral education classes seem to be an excellent addition to the curriculum as a means to reinforce the morals and values that are taught and practiced at home. Moral education classes would be a wonderful addition to the school curriculum within the United States as many children lack structure, discipline, values, and morals.
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