ok, all jokes about atlanta’s proclivity to certify more strippers than readers aside… the reports of such widespread cheating in the atlanta public schools are a travesty. that said, these issues probably are not unique to ATL. we often hear of teachers “teaching the test” instead having the freedom to teach the way they see fit. it’s probably safe to say that the mandates set forth by no child left behind have contributed to the current state and continued decline of our nation’s public schools. by tying pay to student performance, they’ve managed to leave hundreds of children behind. part of a master plan? hmmmm…
all of this is hard for someone like me to digest for a few reasons. first, although i am a proud product of a public school system, i am more than 10 years removed from it. i went to good schools and benefited from magnet and enrichment programs in the 80’s and 90’s. second, i’m not a teacher. i’ve worked with kids, helped with homework after school, but never taught in a classroom. lastly, i don’t have kids. cousins, play nieces and nephews that i love dearly? yes. but i’m not responsible for any child’s education. as a result, i rely on my school administrator, teacher and parent friends (and the news) to stay informed. my views are simply those of a concerned citizen – one tired of hearing and seeing ignorance from young people every day.
the teachers and administrators who participated in this scandal were clearly wrong. but once the bad apples are gone, will education in atlanta’s public schools improve? what responsibility falls on the parents in all of this. you know billy can’t read, so why would you think he legitimately scored in the 90th percentile on this test?
nothing taught in a classroom will sink in if it is not reinforced at home. and nothing can be taught when discipline overshadows actual learning. i’m not sure how i would have done in school if, during those early years, my parents didn’t make me complete my homework, neatly and correctly. if i didn’t know there were consequences at home for bad behavior in school (not that i was the most obedient child)… if i didn’t have a stable home environment… if i didn’t have a role model for good behavior and academic performance in my sister… if we didn’t have books all around the house and multiple sets of encyclopedias at my grandparents’ house… and actually read them… if i didn’t go to the library for reading time, if i didn’t have a speak n’ spell or do those yellow workbooks over the summer (ok, i wanted to do those #seminerdalert).
i was fortunate to grow up the way that i did and i understand that a lot of kids are not afforded those same opportunities. i do think that we need programs and community support to pick up where some parents may leave off. but many parents are perfectly capable of providing here. having to work and put food on the table are not excuses for being a lazy parent. people have been managing careers and parenting for years. why is this generation of parents acting brand new? after all, you did CHOOSE to become a parent.
another issue here is, of course, the concept of standardized testing. while i agree that some arguments about cultural and gender bias may be valid, a lot of the excuses i hear for poor testing are simply failures on the part of the parent. he was hungry. he was tired. he can’t sit still. well, let’s see… we can feed hungry children. we make sure they get enough rest and any attention issues should be diagnosed well before it’s time to take a test at the end of the year. how about a practice test? i remember taking those.
education is a privilege that many people in the world don’t have. you’ve heard the stories. kids traveled 3 hours, barefoot, in 5 feet of snow, through tribal gun battles to get to school. despite these harrowing tales, i can understand how a child might not recognize the opportunity they have by attending school. however, this doesn’t work for adults. we assume most teachers value education, or at least they did when they started teaching. it is my hope that teachers and administrators who do not look out for the best interests of children are summarily dismissed from every school.
but for a parent to not ensure that their child knows AT LEAST as much as they do, i would say that’s damn near criminal.
the CRCT does seem pretty serious, though. here’s the 3rd grade study guide. and the 5th grade mixed fractions tried me, but i prevailed.