Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-g78kv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-08-01T18:27:18.034Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Issues relating to the testing and assessment of Aboriginal students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2015

Michael Ennis
Michael Ennis*
Affiliation:
Thursday Island Special Education Unit (Guidance)
Get access

Abstract

“Tests have been misused to justify race, social class and ethnic discrimination as a racial minority”. (Rescheley, 1979, p. 234.)

The assessment of Aboriginal students as a racial minority is both complex and controversial. All too frequently low achievement scores on standardised tests have placed Aboriginal students in ‘special’ classes for the mildly intellectually handicapped or in non-academic courses (Clark, Clark & Damm, 1979; Cummins, 1980). This paper aims to provide an explanation of the factors influencing the testing and assessment of Aboriginal students. The paper briefly clarifies the terms ‘testing’ and ‘assessment’; offers support for the proposition that Aboriginal students do achieve poorly on both standardised and non-standardised tests; and, most critically, discusses the factors that mitigate against Aboriginal students in assessment situations.

Type
Articles
Information
Queensland Journal of Guidance and Counselling , Volume 3 , November 1989 , pp. 39 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 1989

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aboriginal Education Unit (1982) Strategies for teaching Aboriginal children. Sydney: NSW Department of Education.Google Scholar
Bamblett, P. (1985) Koories in the classroom. Aboriginal Child At School, 13, 5, 34–37.Google Scholar
Blake, B. (1981) Australian Aboriginal languages. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.Google Scholar
Bond, S. (1982) Language development program for schools in Aboriginal communities: Years 1-10. Brisbane: Curriculum Branch, Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Bostock, W. (1981) Alternatives of ethnicity. Corvus: Melbourne.Google Scholar
Burney, L., Lester, J., & Riley, L. (1982) Strategies for teaching Aboriginal children. Sydney: NSW Department of Education.Google Scholar
Christie, M. (1986) Formal education and Aboriginal children. Aboriginal Child at School, 14, 2, 40–44.Google Scholar
Clark, R. (1982) Career education programs. Impact, 59, 8 (10).Google Scholar
Clark, R., Clark, L., & Damm, J. (1979) Counselling across cultures. Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Clark, R., Daanen, P., Geelan, M., Hand, V., McIntyre, L., & Schloss, L. (1976) Developing educational guidance and counselling services for urban Aboriginal students. Aboriginal Child at School, 4, 5.Google Scholar
Clifford, M., & Walster, W. (1973) The effects of physical attractiveness on teacher expectations. Sociology of Education, 46.Google Scholar
Cole, N. (1981) Bias in testing. American Psychologist, 36, 10, 1067–1077.10.1037/0003-066X.36.10.1067Google Scholar
Cronbach, L. (1984) Essentials of psychological testing. New York: Harper & Row.Google Scholar
Cummins, J. (1980) Psychological assessment of minority language students. Modern Language Centre, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education: Toronto, Ont. Google Scholar
Department of Education, Queensland. (1982) Impact, 59.Google Scholar
Department of Education, Queensland. (1984) The education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.Google Scholar
Department of Education, Queensland. (1985) Apparent retention rates: High school students graduating 1985.Google Scholar
Dwyer, J. (1974) The school and the Aboriginal child. Aboriginal Child at School, 2, 1 (02).Google Scholar
Entwisle, D., & Webster, M. (1978) Expectations in mixed racial groups. Sociology of Education, 74, 3, 301–308.Google Scholar
Fitzgerald, R. (1976) Poverty and education in Australia. Canberra: Commission of Inquiry.Google Scholar
Flaugher, R. (1978) The many definitions of test bias. American Psychologist, 33, 671–679.10.1037/0003-066X.33.7.671Google Scholar
Florence, D. (1985) Homework programs for Aboriginal students. GO File, Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Frame, R., Clarizio, H., & Porter, A. Diagnostic and prescriptive bias in school psychologists' reportsof a learning disabled child. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 17, 12–15.10.1177/0022219484017001056699498Google Scholar
Graham, B. (1983) Distance or difference in Aboriginal education. Developing Education, 8, 6 (10), 3–13.Google Scholar
Green, N. (1982) The classroom teacher's influence on the performance of Aboriginal children. In Sherwood, J., (Ed.) Aboriginal education: Issues and innovations. Perth: Creative Research.Google Scholar
Hall, R. (1974) Secondary school adjustment and Aboriginal opportunities. Aboriginal Child at School, 2, 1 (02).Google Scholar
Harris, S. (1978) Traditional Aboriginal education strategies and their possible place in a modern bi-cultural school. Darwin: Northern Territory Department of Education.Google Scholar
Honeyman, K. (1986) Learning difficulties of Aborigines in education. The Aboriginal Child at School, 14, 2 (06/07), 17–27.Google Scholar
Howe, M. (1977) Aborigines and Christians: An introduction to some issues involved. Brisbane: Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research Action.Google Scholar
Inala Family Education Centre (1987) Cross-cultural counselling and assessment. Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Jensen, A. (1987) Bias in mental testing. New York: Free Press.Google Scholar
Kagan, J. (1974) The IQ puzzle: What are we measuring? Education News, 14, 11 (10).Google Scholar
Kearins, J. (1983) A quotient of awareness. The Aboriginal Child at School, 11, 3 (06/07), 24–33.Google Scholar
Kelly, D. (1983) Paper on guidance services for migrant students and their families. Inala Family Education Centre: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Larsen, K. (1976) Race and culture courses: An approach to attitude change. Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies Newsletter, 9, 06, 31–58.Google Scholar
Lippman, L. (1973) Words orblows: Racial attitudes in Australia. Harmondsworth, England: Penguin.Google Scholar
Macquarie Dictionary. (1985) Macquarie Library Pty Ltd Australia, Revised Edition.Google Scholar
McGarvie, N. (1984) Strategies: Teaching Aborigines and Islanders in urban/rural areas, Queensland. Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
McGarvie, N. (1985) Handbook for presenters. Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
McGarvie, N. (1986) The influence of language in the education of Aboriginal students in urban and rural areas in Queensland. Brisbane: Department of Education, Queensland.Google Scholar
Millar, , (1985) Aboriginal employment and training programs. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Murray, B. (1982) What can you do in the classroom? Impact, 59, 10, 7–8.Google Scholar
Oakland, T. (1977) Psychological and educational assessment of minority children. New York: Brunner/Mazel.Google Scholar
McConnochie, K. (1973) Realities of race: An analysis of the concepts of race and racism and their relevance to Australian society. Sydney: Australia and New Zealand Book Company.Google Scholar
Omark, D., & Erickson, J. (1983) The bilingual exceptional child. California: College-Hill Press.Google Scholar
Queensland Office of the Commonwealth Department of Education. (1987) ComEd News, 2, 2.Google Scholar
Reschley, D. (1981) Psychological testing in educational classification and placement. American Psychologist, 36, 10, 1094–1102.10.1037/0003-066X.36.10.1094Google Scholar
Revnolds, C. (1982) The problem of bias in psychological testing. In Reynolds, C. R. & Gutkin, T. B. (Eds) The handbook of school psychology. USA: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Roberts, E., & De Blassie, R. (1983) Test bias and the culturally different adolescent. Adolescence, 18, 72, 837–843.6666709Google Scholar
Sattler, J. (1974) Assessment of children's intelligence. San Diego: Saunders Co. Google Scholar
Seligman, C., Tucker, G., & Lambert, W. The effects of speech style and other attributes on teacher attitudes towards pupils. Language in Society, 1, 1 (04), 131–142.10.1017/S004740450000659XGoogle Scholar
Sharp, N. (1980) The Torres Strait Islands 1879-1970: Theme for an overview.Google Scholar
Spalding, I. (1974) Feeling superior without really trying. Aboriginal Child at School, 2, 2 (04).Google Scholar
Sundberg, N., & Gonzales, L. (1981) Cross-cultural and cross-ethnic assessment: Overview and issues. In McReynolds, P. (Ed.) Advances in psychological assessment, Vol. 5, Jossey-Bass.Google Scholar
Taylor, J. (1977) Diet, health and economy: Some consequences of planned social change in an Aboriginal community. In Berndt, R. Aborigines and change. USA: Humanities Press.Google Scholar
Troike, R. (1983) Can language be tested? Journal of Education, 165, 2 (Spring), 209–216.Google Scholar
UNESCO (1974) Australian Aboriginal culture. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Walton, C. (1983) Issues and problems related to testing language skills in a cross-cultural setting. The Aboriginal Child at School, 10, 2, 19–26.Google Scholar
Watts, B. (n.d.) Increasing achievement aspirations and motivations through teaching. Brisbane: University of Queensland Press.Google Scholar
Watts, B. (1982) Aboriginal futures. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Western, J. (1973) What white Australians think. In G. Kearney, , P., de Lacey & Davidson, G. (Eds) The psychology of Aboriginal Australians. Melbourne: Wiley.Google Scholar
World Council of Churches. (1981) Justice for Aboriginal Australians. Sydney: Australian Council of Churches.Google Scholar