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Bob Englehart, of the Hartford Courant has a cartoon reprinted in Time magazine this week that's a pure joy because it's so honest, plus it goes well with a question I've been asking my students this week.
There are two students walking home from school talking, and the quip under the cartoon is: "So far, all we're learning is how to take a math test, how to take a science test, and how to take a reading test."
The question I've asked students at my school is: "Do you think you learn more when you are taking a test, or when your teacher is teaching you?" Unanimous - not one child said they learned more taking a test. The kids are in school some 9 months a year, and at least two months of that time are taking up testing. In 12 years of school, that's 24 months spent testing. 2 years wasted of a child's life - because in the long run the test means nothing for the child as an adult. However, the lack of schooling will display itself dramatically as an adult.
I keep asking the same question to teachers and administrators - "When you went to the doctor or the dentist last, did you ask him what his/her grades were?" No one knows, nor apparently does anyone care. Grades only matter in school, not in real life. So, what purpose these tests the government keeps insisting we give? It is impossible for a test to educate anyone.
Bob Englehart, of the Hartford Courant has a cartoon reprinted in Time magazine this week that's a pure joy because it's so honest, plus it goes well with a question I've been asking my students this week.
There are two students walking home from school talking, and the quip under the cartoon is: "So far, all we're learning is how to take a math test, how to take a science test, and how to take a reading test."
The question I've asked students at my school is: "Do you think you learn more when you are taking a test, or when your teacher is teaching you?" Unanimous - not one child said they learned more taking a test. The kids are in school some 9 months a year, and at least two months of that time are taking up testing. In 12 years of school, that's 24 months spent testing. 2 years wasted of a child's life - because in the long run the test means nothing for the child as an adult. However, the lack of schooling will display itself dramatically as an adult.
I keep asking the same question to teachers and administrators - "When you went to the doctor or the dentist last, did you ask him what his/her grades were?" No one knows, nor apparently does anyone care. Grades only matter in school, not in real life. So, what purpose these tests the government keeps insisting we give? It is impossible for a test to educate anyone.
posted by Cholla Needles | 9:21 AM
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