is it really fair (rant) - contains generalizations & call to action
How is it valid that a test that takes two hours is supposedly going to show how well or poorly a student has progressed? That progress is a reflection of the teachers/school solely, if politicians are to be believed; parents, community, and society have no effect whatsoever on the students. The child's performance is going to determine how much a teacher is going to get paid, how much funding a school will receive, and whether or not that PUBLIC school will be taken over by PRIVATE interests in order to reform it. If a child is at a school where its peers perform low, the government will subsidize it's education at a private (and usually religious) institution, instead of using those dollars contributed by the public to reform the schools to which the rest of the public (i.e., mostly those who cannot afford the balance of the private school tuition) must be subjected.
Yeah, two hours will dictate all of that. Standardized tests are only one indicator, yet they're taking over our society and driving everything. It's a load of bunk.
In high school and college we joked about taking over the world and making things right. We might not actually take over the world, despite our (pseudo)napoleonic tendencies and admiration of Brain (Animaniacs) and others determined to take it over for their own benefit, but why can't we take control by getting out there and writing letters, talking to people, and voting? People complain that the youth don't get involved. The youth complain that the elections system is complicated and that it's too much for them to take on with their busy schedules. But you know what, if Thomas Jefferson had said he was too busy to help craft the document that has framed our society and government for the past two centuries, where would we be today? If Patrick Henry and his comrades had said they were too confused, or it was too much to take on, where would we be today?
People need to get off their lazy butts and (1) take pride in themselves by improving their situation so that they are (2) competent and qualified to make a difference instead of moaning and complaining. I know many who are going to be taking time out of their schedules to be at rallies against the new legislation regarding merit pay for teachers. Today in Orlando, many people were out standing up for what they believed in - whether they were the neo-Nazis (boo) or those protesting against this narrow-minded group (yay).
signed,
frustrated by the dishonest politicians and refusing to take it anymore
x-posted to multiple places.
Yeah, two hours will dictate all of that. Standardized tests are only one indicator, yet they're taking over our society and driving everything. It's a load of bunk.
In high school and college we joked about taking over the world and making things right. We might not actually take over the world, despite our (pseudo)napoleonic tendencies and admiration of Brain (Animaniacs) and others determined to take it over for their own benefit, but why can't we take control by getting out there and writing letters, talking to people, and voting? People complain that the youth don't get involved. The youth complain that the elections system is complicated and that it's too much for them to take on with their busy schedules. But you know what, if Thomas Jefferson had said he was too busy to help craft the document that has framed our society and government for the past two centuries, where would we be today? If Patrick Henry and his comrades had said they were too confused, or it was too much to take on, where would we be today?
People need to get off their lazy butts and (1) take pride in themselves by improving their situation so that they are (2) competent and qualified to make a difference instead of moaning and complaining. I know many who are going to be taking time out of their schedules to be at rallies against the new legislation regarding merit pay for teachers. Today in Orlando, many people were out standing up for what they believed in - whether they were the neo-Nazis (boo) or those protesting against this narrow-minded group (yay).
signed,
frustrated by the dishonest politicians and refusing to take it anymore
x-posted to multiple places.