No More Tests Please…
I feel a little badly writing these words… just a little though… definitely NOT a lot! As adults, we can be pretty stupid sometimes. As a person who works in education, I feel like the adults are SO tied to how “education has always been” that we often don’t even allow ourselves the opportunity to be brilliant, or at least “less stupid.” We have been “testing” our kids for so long that at this point, what do we do if we don’t test them?
If we don’t have a data sheet in front of us that clearly explains in graphs and analytics if the kid is making “progress” in reading and math and “social skills”, how are we supposed to “know” anything about the kid? Are they “improving?” Are they “behind” their peers? Do they need “extra help?” Are they “too smart?” Too emotional? Too hyper? Too… whatever…?
I have an idea! What if we actually interact with our kids and pay attention to them and listen to them when they tell us what they need? What if we take them outside and play catch with them or play in the puddles when it rains. What if we go explore mountain ranges and sail seas and find furry friends in the forests? What if we read them bedtime stories and give them hugs before they sleep? And another hug when they wake? And another hug whenever it is needed? What if WE (the adults) put down our phones and the computer printouts and the graphs and analytics and actually BE with our kids? Whether our own or in the classroom or just walking down the street? We don’t need “tests” to tell us if our kids are doing ok! We simply need to pay attention with open eyes, open ears, open hearts, and open arms!
Please, please, please no more tests! Our kids NEED US! Not more tests…
BRILLIANT.
Our world is changing. Our educational system needs to change, as well.
A child’s success is SO MUCH MORE than one testing day. A teacher’s success is SO MUCH MORE important than one testing day.
We can Google information. Day-to-day skills are a much better indicator or success.
Relationships are important. Day-to-day skills are important. Collaboration is important. Problem solving is important. Caring and empathy are important.
I hope I can see change in our lifetime with a new lens of measuring the
“success” of our children and of our schools.
Could not agree more, Betsy! We need to start creating “successful moments” for our children in our schools where kids can “feel and experience” what it “is” to “be” successful! I realize I am probably in the minority in this, but I don’t really feel a child’s success is dependent on if they can pick the right answer to 9 x 7 = ?. I feel a child has the best opportunity to create success for themselves and others when they “know” how it good it feels to experience success in this life and can and WANTS to continue to build off these positive emotions. I want children who “can create success in themselves and others”, not children who can “take a test with 80% proficiency.” Maybe that is just me though…