On Tuesday, a few thousand children sat an exam which, unfortunately, will commence the process of branding them as duncy, average or smart.
Let’s not pretend, people. Let’s not act as if you are lost to what I am talking about.
You were branded, I was branded, and they too will be branded, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
The belief today may not be as strong as it was in the 80s and early 90s, but we know that if these children don’t pass for “the top 5 schools” we as a society brand them. Don’t be fooled. These children are aware of this as well.
I am one who has significant issues with this exam as it has the ability to negatively affect a child’s future, self-esteem, morale, pride and overall development depending on which school they pass for.
All schools have challenging and deviant children. However, I believe there are a greater number of these types of students within what we as a society call the lower secondary schools. Some of you may act as if this is not true but I know there are schools in this country that you would not like your child to attend and there are some schools that some teachers wouldn’t want to teach at either.
Many may argue that this exam has served them well but I will argue that the world has changed; society has changed and our children have changed with it. As a result, our educational system needs to be reformed and the ways in which we assess our children adjusted.
The Common Entrance Exam assesses children only on their academic strengths in two subjects. Students who are strong academically are at a greater advantage than those who may show strength in the technical, arts and sports area.
I am not saying to abolish the academic exam but it should be part of a wide set of assessments used to place children into secondary schools.
Parents, I know that it is your desire to see your children do their best in exams and I know some of you have done everything possible to help them reach that goal, and I commend you for that.
I want to introduce you to a new train of thought as you prepare to introduce your children to secondary school life.
We as a people have a tendency to be jack-of-all-trades and masters of none. Let me explain by sharing a short experience with you.
During a form level meeting, a parent said to me she wanted her daughter to attend my mathematics lessons classes since she had always failed mathematics. My immediate response was “no”. This student was a very good art student and I encouraged the mother to focus on her daughter’s area of strength, which was art, and do everything possible to see her succeed in it. The mother took my advice and the student received a Grade 1 in art and performed well as an art student at the Barbados Community College.
We as Barbadians love to focus our attention and resources on the weak academic areas, yet we do not apply this same mindset to sports and the arts. For example, if a student brings home a report card that has six As, two Bs and two Fs, we send the child to lessons for the two Fs. While the child is trying to improve those Fs many of those As are becoming Bs and Bs becoming Cs. However, if you recognize your child is talented in swimming, you do not send them to football practice. Same thing goes for the arts. If you recognize your child has a talent in playing the drums, you don’t send them to dance lessons.
We know Oprah Winfrey for talking. We know Michael Jordan for throwing a ball in a hoop. We know Will Smith for acting and we know Bono for singing. These have spoken to the world through their talents and have become masters at what they do.
Regardless of where your child goes, make sure you encourage him/her to become a master and not a jack. Don’t worry, society separates us after Common Entrance and brands us, yet all of us end back up at BCC and the University of the West Indies. Strange, huh?
Corey Worrell is a former Commonwealth youth ambassador.
