For instance, in Thailand, where children make up over 30 percent of the population, nearly 60 percent -- six million children -- of primary school age are undernourished; nearly one million are critically malnourished. Ironically this country is a major producer and exporter of food. In some areas of the world, the situation is even more depressing. In conflict-ridden areas of Sri Lanka, for example, the UN World Food Program found alarming levels of malnutrition (Gunde, 2012). A quarter of the children in these areas are "stunted,” or too short for their age, and nearly one in three is severely "wasted,” that is, far too thin for their height. And in still other places, children face outright starvation. A news report from Zimbabwe, once a breadbasket of Southern Africa, quoted a 32-year-old mother waiting in a queue for a bag of corn meal and a portion of beans passed out by the World Food Program: "I want my children to go to lessons to learn, but the walk is too much for them some days when they are so famished. How can they learn when they have no food in their stomachs?"
The examples mentioned above are very heartfelt. As a mother, I could never imagine having to stand in a line waiting to get food for long periods of time. However, as a mother I know that in order for my child to eat, I would do anything and everything I had to do to make sure he does.
Reference:
Gunde , R. (2012). School Children in the Developing World: Health, Nutrition and School Performance. Retrieved from http://www.international.ucla.edu
Your research on Thailand is so sad. I live in a poverty stricken area and I have seen and still see today malnourished children. It is so hard for them to sit and listen/learn anything because they are hungry, dirty and tired. I try my best to make sure these children eat while at school and rest during rest time. I wish I could bathe some of them but I am not allowed but baby wipes do work wonders.
ReplyDeleteThank you for you post it is a real eye opener.
What a powerful statement - "I believe that testing a child should be more than what a child looks like or what a child can do on paper, it should be what a child can do creatively." Creativity is so important for a teacher/parent to see within a child. When we do find the child's creativity, we should praise the child and encourage the child to continue to be creative in all that he/she does!
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a valid point, without basic needs being met, assessment is of no value. To properly assess children we need to take a holistic approach and consider the child's overall needs, abilities (creative or otherwise) and aspirations/gifts. Each child is special and has potential for great things.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you adding an assessment for a students health and well being is a great idea. If a child is not healthy and or has issues, physically or mentally a child being assessed may not perform well. The Government, Schools, Colleges and Universities do not take these things into account when examing the assessments, that are currently in place. An unhealthy child could be the difference between Exceeding Expectations, and Not Meeting Expectations.
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