I've had a lot of time over the last year to sit back and take a look at my life and career. I can't help but be concerned about the educational system and the children who's lives it impacts. It seems as though ever 10-15 years a major revamping is undertaken by our state and federal government. No Child Left Behind appears to have left behind a huge number of children. Whatever happened to teaching the 3 R' s? It worked for me. I turned out pretty well I think. When did it become more important for our students to satisfy state and federal agencies by being reduced to a number? How many students are labeled as u.satisfactory because of one test? The one test that is really nothing more than a snapshot of that day, that moment? Is it really in the best interest of that student when he or she may be sick, tired, or scared because daddy came home drunk, grandma lost her job or they aren't sure where they'll sleep that night?
Don't get me wrong, I understand the reasoning behind state testing. But really folks, how fair is it to issue a blanket test on students across the state when not every school has the same curriculum? Sure we all use the same states skills that we teach, but how different do you think a teacher in a sprawling metro school relays those skills compared to that of a tiny country school with a population of less than 200? That's like sending a vegetarian to work in a butcher shop. My feelings on state mandated testing is really pretty simple. Every school teach from the exact textbooks at the same pace and test every nine weeks. Problem solved.
That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.
