Assessment

Many of you know of my religious beliefs and affiliations.  Over the course of the last week or so, I had an enlightening experience in the temple and in my assessment course.  Though I prefer not to explain all details and thoughts I had in the temple, I desire here to attempt to explain the basics of what I learned and felt.

As I waited to begin a service within the temple, I thought that it might be helpful to continue through the ordinance with a certain lens, or perspective.  What came to my mind almost immediately was a topic that I've been becoming incredibly interested in at school: Assessment.  I had some time before the session started, so I began thinking about how God assesses us.  I began to think about the story in the Bible about Mary and Martha.  The story is found in St. Luke 10:38-42.

Jesus entered into their home. Both sisters adored the Savior and wanted to serve him.  Martha, thus, upon Christ's arrival, began clearing up the mess and clutter, at least that is how she perceived the state of their home.  Mary sat down at Jesus' feet, showing her humility and willingness to learn from the Master.  Martha became frustrated that she was the only one cleaning up for the Savior.  She approached him, and asked why he wasn't encouraging Mary to do the same, as it was appropriate to prepare one's house for a guest.  Jesus responded, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things."  Now, in English, this response is a little ambiguous.  It would almost sound like the Savior is describing one of Martha's characteristics.  However, in the Spanish, a slightly different understanding is obtained.  He says, "Marta, Marta, afanada y turbada estás con muchas cosas."

In Spanish, there are 2 verbs that are very similar, in the which both translate to the English to be, ser and estar.  One theory held by many linguists is that ser is used in Spanish to classify into groups while estar is only a reference to a singular event in which a characterisitic stands out that doesn´t typically.  For example, by complimenting a woman who dressed up with "estás muy bonita" the speaker is complimenting her on her appearance for that singular instance.  This does not mean she isn´t usually pretty, but that you are noticing the difference of how she´s dressed today compared to other typical days.

With this understanding, Christ´s response to Martha seems to be referring to today´s instance, as if he were saying, "Martha, right now, you´re worried about too many things, and with me, you don´t have to worry about cleaning the house."  Taking this message with this perspective, I think it is important to understand that the Lord wasn´t refusing Martha´s offer of worship through tidying up, but rather was letting her know that she doesn´t need to expect Mary to be worshipping in the same way.

This is where we can look at the rest of the Savior´s response: "But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

I imagine, that Martha, just as much as Mary, wanted to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to his words.  Thus, it would seem she was troubled in that moment about many things, i.e. tidying the house, listening to the Savior, and serving his physical needs.  Christ explains that the most important of those desires is to hear his words.  Another interesting point to the story deals with the interpretation I think a lot of people make with this story, I know I have before.  Christ does not say that Mary has chosen the "better" part, but simply the good part. I don't know how the Hebrew version of this passage is recorded and what insights it may provide; however, I don't think the Savior was rejecting Martha's act of service of cleaning up the house.  He never corrects her.  The only time the Lord says anything about it is when Martha gets frustrated that Mary isn't helping her.  This is when he gives Martha counsel and also accepts Mary's desire to sit and listen without concerning herself with other things.

There is an important lesson here about the way the Lord assesses our faith and our actions towards serving him.  For example, Jesus never compares Martha's actions to Mary's.  He accepts both according to the progression that each had made.  Both were acceptable to him. What wasn't acceptable was that Martha had any ire towards Mary's choices of service and action.

So who passed the test?  We are talking about assessment aren't we? Both passed!  Both received feedback from the Assessor and both will continue to increase their faith and show it through their works.

If this is the way our ultimate Example assess us towards the objectives of eternity, how are we as, school teachers, business leaders, and parents assessing the progress and growth of those we teach and guide?  Are we following the Savior's example of assessment?  Let's look at the applications here within an education context.

Assessments have long since depended on allowing students to get the appropriate grade that would allow them to pass, or rather get credit for, a class.  This does not incite any such type of life-long learning or an appropriate assessment of the student's progress towards an objective (unless the only object was to pass the class).  If one student learns from an experience, how can that be assigned a grade?  Can we assign a grade according to how impactful that exprience was to the student?  This would be something incredibly difficult to assess.  Jesus has the power to at least look on the heart.  Thus, we must have some order to compensate for this human deficiency of assessment.

Sometimes we can assign a grade to the level of progression one has made in a learning context.  Looking at Adam and Eve's situation, I believe there were some pass/fail situations here that we can learn from.  When Adam and Eve were still in the Garden and tempted by the adversary to eat of the forbidden fruit, did they pass or fail the test?  I'm sure this situation is seen differently from the varying religious perspectives.  So, we'll stick with my belief of the situation. :)  I believe they both passed.

Both Adam and Eve (Eve first by understanding the plan God had for her and Adam, and then helped Adam understand and partake of the fruit also), took the information they had been given and gained from their time in the Garden of Eden (who knows how long that was!) and synthesized it to make a decision. Now that decision had consequences that they were both willing to face and work with from that point onward.

Isn't this the education process!!  Perhaps, we could say that Adam and Eve failed the test, or the commandment not to eat of the fruit. However, they were willing to fail in order to progress and acquire further knowledge.  The Lord understood this and allowed them to make the choice and further guided them to success towards both earthly and eternal rewards.

As teachers, if we are micromanaging our students so much to the point that they are not able to synthesize information, make their own decisions towards their own progress, and fail, are we really teaching them?  I say no.  By doing this, we are providing them a safe space within the Garden where there is no progression towards enlightenment.  By allowing them to fail, students can achieve higher levels of knowledge and understanding than they could without that experience.

As we grow and progress through this life, God continues to give up checkpoints and benchmarks, clear pass/fail opportunities: Baptism, the priesthood, temple ordinances, and marriage (and staying married),  plus many others.  Thus I feel assessments aimed towards looking at specific skills and abilities are important (multiple choice questions, fill-in-the-blank, etc.)  However, the final test is what students can do with the information gathered from being able to accomplish those skills they have acquired along the way.

Please post any comments you may have.  I'd love to hear your thoughts and continue conversations about this with you.