Tuesday: still no Teach-In
Today was the NCLB-mandated standardized test for math, so, once again, I sat in my student’s home while she worked on, and on. And on. Sixty questions. Although she is too ill to go to school, she is a cheerful and philosophical soul. She’s also extremely bright, so my docile compliance with state testing requirements isn’t as painful as it often can be.
I know I am writing a lot about NCLB-mandated testing at the moment. This is a seasonal disorder with me. Whenever we go through the process, called “the season,” I find myself overwhelmed and despairing. Overwhelmed because of the vast number of people who are negatively affected. Despairing because we just DO IT, mumbling mutiny, but ultimately joining the herd. It seems that everyone I know or encounter feels damaged to some extent by the process, but none of us does more than gripe. Like I’m doing.
I occasionally send the gripe to my state and federal representatives, but I no longer even receive the form letter telling me how much Senator X appreciates my input.
Maybe I need to post some of those addresses, and you could drop a line. Would that help? Or am I naive in believing that representatives respond to the will of the people.
What I’d really like to do is have a teach-in, where teachers refuse to administer the standardized test, and instead teach something exciting, interesting, relevant. Wouldn’t that be fun????
There really is a better way. I believe it.
Filed under: Home base | Tagged: NCLB, standardized testing, TAKS
