[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7100316.stm[/url]
"The Conservatives have set out plans which they say will ensure children can read by the age of six. "

What do you think?

I think it's fucking bullshit because having tests at such an early age is not good for the child. Like some guy (in the article) said, giving someone the impression that he or she cannot do something is among the worst things you can do to a child.

Also if the teachers are competent enough to set grades on how good a student is to read, they ought to be competent enough to help the children with what they need to improve and lead an individual development plan with them.

Damn this new forum... and you cant seem to edit posts anymore either..

:/

I do think children should be able to read by six, but not because of those reasons. Tests at such an early age are unnecessary, if not obsolete. Reading does however improve linguistic skills and are obtained the easiest around the age of 5.

In conclusion: YES to the reading, NO to the tests

imo its odd if a child cant read at the age of six. well, maybe it depends where you grew you up

i can already read when i was six, but oh well

Nightfoal: I agree. Yes to the reading, No to the tests. Tests are not going to help six-year old children at all.

I discussed this at some vampire forum (dont ask... haha) and many were pro-tests. It was like, "oh well, I went to this private special school for specially-talented-children only, and I could read by the age of 4. Ofcourse six year olds should be tested. If you cant read by six, there's no hope for you, anyways!" (roughly summed up, might be a bit overstated :P) .

I think at the age of 6 they should have a reasonable ability to read, but I think at age 7 or 8 they should be fully able to read.

In France we start to learn read/write at 6 ... without test or things like that, it's for everybody the same.
Actually childrens also start to learn english around 9yo, and it have been (have, will be, i'm not really sure) changed to 7yo...

When do they start to learn reading native langs and another one in your countrys?

In Israel the people that study all the books of the Jewish Bible start to read by the age of 3 for them to be able to read the Bible at a young age.
In the community school we start to learn how to read by the age of 5-6.

i was able to read when i was 5 but i think its individual and kinda fuckd up if they are making some tests to these children.

I think It's great ! because of the earlier beginning tey wich children have problem with reading and writing so they get extra years to beh helped !

its going to differ for each child based on there learning skills

I didn't read the article, but I what you wrote, especially the lines "Having tests at such an early age". Tests do absolutely NOTHING for someone that is that young. When kids are that young, they can be dumb as a rock, but be smart as hell the next year. In the USA, we just need better teachers, and teachers who know what to do with kids who are having trouble with reading, and not just reading, this can apply to math, writing , English and even understanding social studies.

why do you not ready sex?