What’s ministry trying to do?

Following the ministry’s original instructions, teachers have been preparing students to write either a formal letter or a report or a story, in the expectation that they will ultimately be asked to select one of the three in their exam. To most parents and teachers, this seems both fair and justifiable.

Naturally, every child will have his/her own preference, feeling more confident in his/her capacity to work well with one or another of the three. This is certainly normal and should therefore be expected. We are, after all, looking for a well-written essay of whichever type. Aren’t we? With a choice which offers one of each, every child can feel she/he has a fair chance to do well.

What, in fact, do we get? A last-minute announcement from the ministry that the choices will be severely limited. Either three letters, or three reports, or three stories will be offered. In other words, we are purposely and purposefully limiting every child’s choice to just one type of essay.

By the way, is it the ministry’s view that examinations are meant to be punitive? Why are we purposely disadvantaging possibly two-thirds of the students? Is this the ministry’s real objective? Is the ministry satisfied that this is morally acceptable? Is it justifiable, given the impact it will have on the future of every child? Isn’t there a large enough percentage of our students who are already disadvantaged in other ways? What, exactly, are we thinking? What are we doing to our children? Why does it continue to be the case that so many of our institutions feel free to make arbitrary and whimsical decisions that are essentially abusive to us and to our children? Why do they do this repeatedly and with impunity? For heaven’s sake, offer the children one of each kind of composition so they actually do have a choice. This is not rocket science.

Plain common sense would recommend it. It would clearly be just, as well as humane. What are we trying to do? What is wrong with us?

LYDIA BONAPARTE

Alyce Glen