"I know how we can save American Education; I know how we can save public schools! Let's give our unmotivated students another high-stakes, multiple-choice standardized achievement test."
What a bunch of crap! I am sick and tired of politicians who use the above propaganda as a mantra for fixing education. Teaching and learning is an art and quality art can not be measured on a test graded by a machine. I have worked successfully as a teacher, professor, and a life-long learner for decades, and the current state of "helping education" has me ready to puke on most days.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) has a wonderful title and has hurt more students, teachers, and school communities than any other piece of legislation in U.S. history. Creative teachers have been reduced to presenting test-taking drill and skill to students who deserve so much more. Schools are now ranked and labeled as failing on the basis of an assessment, which lacks reliability and validity. Education is struggling under a one dimensional judgment system, which punishes students and schools for the incomes of their families.
Are you a teacher who wants to build positive relationships with students and to facilitate students gaining relevant knowledge, deep understanding, and skillful performance? Are you a student who wonders why school chooses to not meet your educational and psychological needs? Are you a parent who has seen your child cry about being sent to school on state test day? If you are any where close to answering "yes", then monitor this new blog.
I promise to tell you the truth about learning, students, teachers, schools, education, and quality as I see it. Let's navigate the sea of crisis together. Let's be rebels in a sea of mundane conformity. Let's be pirates and say children are more than, and come before, test scores.
Dr. Robert, Education Pirate
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