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Failing 11-plus can only destroy a child’s confidence
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
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I am tired of the attacks on Sinn Fein's Caitriona Ruane because of her position on the 11-plus. It is time the Belfast Telegraph reported some of the long-term damaging aspects of the exam and the sound reasons for its elimiation by Sinn Fein.
At 11 children vary in stages of maturity, especially many boys who develop later. Children in this group are, therefore, at a distinct disadvantage in sitting the 11-plus. Some of these late bloomers sit and unfortunately fail the 11-plus for no other reason other than their maturity level at age 11. They then attend a secondary school that in many cases does not cater for their academic ability in the same way as a grammar school.
Children from wealthy homes are at a clear advantage. Wealthy parents can spend large amounts of money on home tuition to provide every opportunity for their children to pass the 11-plus.
The most under-reported aspect of the 11-plus is how it labels those who do not pass as failures. It is difficult to determine exactly how psychologically damaging this is for an 11- year-old child. It causes many to suffer a deep lack of confidence in their academic ability and that child often never fully recovers to the point where they can reach their full academic potential.
Any system that damages our children's confidence at any age does not provide equal opportunity for all. Sinn Fein must be complimented for continuing to fight for the interests of children instead of submitting to attacks from unionist politicians and elitist grammar schools. Well done Caitriona Ruane and Sinn Fein.
KT
Co Armagh
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KT,
This is such a typical dinosaur viewpoint. Why don't you ask those who have gone through the education system recently (ie not in the era of 'O'-Levels etc) how they feel about it?
My best friend received a D, went to a school where she could cope and achieved grades which were spectacular.
14 is a ridiculous age to suggest. GCSE's follow straight after so this would be a nightmare to bring students up to GCSE standard. You are only going to put pressure on 14 year olds to sit a transfer exam and then get up to GCSE standard in two years.
Our system is the best in the UK, why change it to pacify Mrs Ruin who refuses to recognise the name of a state she holds a seat in?
Posted by LEE | 01.12.08, 22:32 GMT
The 11-plus is designed to select children with committed parents who will help a child with their homework and provide extra tuition to bring them up to standard when the school is lacking.
That way the grammar schools can get good results with minimal effort. If you were a grammar school teacher would you be in favour of change?
Posted by 11-Plus Realist | 27.11.08, 21:39 GMT
Stacey. I don't think the parents are the ones branding their children as failures. I think it's as simple as if you pass you go to the good school. If you don't, you go to the dodgy school. I know it's not as simple as that but that, I think, is the message kids get.
Posted by Yip | 27.11.08, 16:32 GMT
Academic selection is vital if the education provided for a child is to be tailored to their abilities in a way that helps them attain their full potential. However the 11+ is not the only method of academic selection, a more meaningful measure of a child's abilities would be provided by having detailed reports prepared by teachers covering, at least, the last 3 years of primary school. This would remove the stress of sitting a one chance-only exam and give secondary level schools a more rounded profile to base their pupil selection on.
Posted by CM | 27.11.08, 16:26 GMT
What a load of nonsense. My child is from a one parent family, living in a deprived area and a May birthday and got an A - so where does all this rhetoric fit in? Furthermore, all the kids who went to the primary school are all from a deprived area, and could not possibly afford tuition - the results were excellent from the school!
Posted by Concerned Parent | 27.11.08, 12:51 GMT
The only reason a child would think it is a failure, is if the parents tell them they are. I passed the 11+ and went to grammar school and then university. My little brother failed the 11+, went to secondary school, went to tech and is now doing the same degree as I did at university. Our parents told us to do our best, didn't put us through months of tuition, and just supported us, so passing or failing certainly has not made any difference to our confidence or ability.
Posted by Stacey | 27.11.08, 12:46 GMT
Where has PACENI been all these years? I am sure the educational systems of every country will be beating a path to their door, seeking words of guidance from the great men (and women) comprising this elite, or dare one say elect, group (who are they BTW?) To have all the answers is a privileged position to hold, how we envy their fundamental certainty!
PLease continue to guide us Oh great ones, let us benefit from your great wisdom…………
Posted by Exasperated | 27.11.08, 09:38 GMT
I experienced failing the 11+ and it DID NOT destroy my confidence, being placed into a class of kids who had matured quicker than I had academically DID destroy my confidence.
I was sent to boarding school and put in a class of kids who had passed their 11+ and I ended up getting thrown out because I couldn't handle the workload expected of me.
I went back to a Comprehensive School, into the 3rd teir of classes (based on my 11+ results) and fitted in well and was taught at a level that suited my ability at that time. This lead to University and a highly successful career; this is the positive side of the 11+. You aknowledge that not all kids mature or develop at the same rate, yet you want to abolish a system that helps the schools teach kids at their current ability?
This is a social issue about people respecting education and giving everyone an equal chance; abolishing the 11+ will simply reduce education to the lowest common denominator, it is not the answer.
Posted by Steven | 27.11.08, 01:25 GMT
The reactionaries in this whole debate are the likes of the "Parental Alliance for Choice in Education." A grandiose title which is indicative of their inflated opinion of their crackpot educational theories on selection. The 11+ is a discredited piece of social engineering. PACE are reactionary snobs who do want their little Wilhelmina to mix with the hoodies down the road.
Posted by William | 26.11.08, 20:45 GMT
Who is it that actually damages the childrens' confidence? Could it be the parents and not the 11 plus?
Posted by windy | 26.11.08, 17:34 GMT
This is such an atypical, reactionary viewpoint: there are much more significant events in a child's life that affect their upbringing other than the 11+. Growing up in a loveless houshold; living in a ghetto-area of sectarian hatred; emtional abuse; poverty; religious coercion...I "failed" the 11+, yet still went to a grammar school, as received (what I consider) to be an exemplary education. I certainly didn't have parents who paid for extra tuition (unlike peers who took the 11+ alongside me), and had nothing in the way of preferential priviledge. What really damages children is the attitude of snooty parents, placing so much emphasis on what is achieved so young. So stop with the usual rhetoric, and start thinking about what really damages oiur children.
Posted by Nige | 26.11.08, 15:33 GMT
KT
What a pathetic diatribe in support of the failures represented by Sinn Fein (and others). Please explain how, why and when the failure label should be applied to pupils at 10 or 11? Transfer grade A, B1, B2, C1, C2 or D? Your ideological claptrap may fool some of the people some of the time but has become even more tired and worn out eight years after John Gardner provided the Testing the Test report. Neither he nor anyone else has bettered the 11-plus - how about you?
Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 26.11.08, 14:39 GMT