My Son a Genuis, I Don’t Think So!
ByGuest post by Marina K. Villatoro, Travel Experta.
It’s officially summer break for my son and we’re in the process of getting him ready to move on from Kindergarten to something that is called Prepartorio here. Basically in the States it is the official Kindergarten since there really isn’t anything that would translate into it and from my experience in these countries you don’t start reading and writing until this class.
However, it’s not that easy. Your child has to take an ‘exam’ to see what level of Prepa he’s going into. Although, I have to say there is only one available at my son’s school and chances are all kids are going into it. However… we came for the exam. It was about 2 hours long and when I came to pick him up I was given the diagnostic.
Ironically, at the moment the secretary was telling me about the test results, the director of the school, who has yet to even say hello to me, was in the teeny tiny office with us.
Apparently my son is a genius. He got 100% on the math, 98% in Spanish and 93% in English. This made the director stop in her tracks, grab the exam out of the secretary’s hand and say to her, “this kid isn’t going to Prepa, I want him in first grade!”
I didn’t grab the test out her hands, but I immediately said, “NO! my kid can’t even read yet!” She gave me a condescending look and asked, “He’s not mature enough yet?” and my answer was, “No!” On all counts.
After another condescending look, I was given the exam and she left the room. If my 5 year old can’t pass this test, then we have bigger issues to deal with. There was no adding or subtracting, just reading numbers and only up to 10. There were no words at all, just a few letters and images. If this is the way they rank their kids, then I’m curious what a true genius would do at any school. Yet all of a sudden the secretaries in the room harbored a new form of respect for my little guy!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m super proud of my son, but come on! What kid would fail this test?
Bio
Marina has been living in Central America for over 7 years and her site Travel Experta is all about traveling in Central America. Marina loves to help people plan the perfect vacation to this amazing part of the world! You can sign up for her RSS feed and join the fun on her facebook fan page and follow her on Twitter at @MarinaVillatoro.
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3 Comments
October 30th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
I presume this is a private school. But in the schools where the poor kids go one would not believe how developmentally deprived alot of kids have been throughout their childhood. One family I knew, the children had never seen a puzzle and could not figure out a strategy when introduced to one how to it (remember our problem solving/critical thinking discussion). Almost no Guatemalan children below middle class have a book in their home, have ever been read bedtime stories, or have any games or toys like blocks or legos so their exposure to spatial development has been hindered as well. On and on it goes so it doesn't surprise me that your child is considered a "genius". Just keep up YOUR good work with him……
October 30th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Thanks, but this is a private school. I would expect a little higher standards. But I'm happy with it since I know that he's progressing:)
October 31st, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Well you keep up whatever YOU are doing cause it is working!