Breaking The Standard

It is scary to think that the best interest of our government is the primary concern when it comes to standardized testing, yet we are brainwashed to believe that it is the best interest of our children and educators that we are taking in to consideration. When it comes right down to it, it is really just a numbers issue. Which schools should have increased funding? Which schools’ funding should be cut? How do we distribute all of our tax payers’ money?

It has been proven time and time again that our kids DO NOT benefit from such testing practices. Shouldn’t we do something about this?

In my mind, what is even more selfish is advanced placement programs that pluck out the verbally and mathematically intelligent at a young age so that they can hone in our their skills while other kids are left in the dust. Perhaps the reasoning behind this is many in Washington feel those who succeed verbally and mathematically will better benefit society in the long run? What about the kids who are great in the arts? Communication skills? Sports? I’ve said it before: try asking those questions to such change makers as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Fosse, Michelangelo, or Jesse Owens. I hope everyone agrees with me that many skills out side of linguistics and mathematics are important to the functionality of our society.

This is a bigger issue than we choose to believe, so please, the least you can do is think about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2nBRyBfwQM&eurl=http://www.chipotle.com/assets/video-contest/origami.html

A perfect example of brilliant student work that is not the product of a faulty educational system and standardized testing.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VGow8ut5_34

Barack Obama on NCLB and standardized testing.

“To many, education is seen as the catalyst by which society reaches knowledge, but more and more the typical standards of education do not allow people to reach such knowledge.”

-Nathan Tracy, ex-student

Will someone please explain to me why it is a good idea to assume that some children are more “intelligent” than others, and then ship them off to “special schools” where they can get the best education possible, with the best teachers possible, leaving the other “normal” children in the dust. I don’t get it and I certainly don’t think it is fair, or beneficial for that matter.

“Our children are tested to an extent that is unmatched in the history of our society.”
-Jonathan Pollard