As I watched four young people take the mandated tests that our school is so worried about, I thought about how these kids are affected by how they perform on this one test. The results of their tests will determine a large portion of the direction these 8th graders will head in High School.
One student had was so worried about doing well on the test that it had stressed that student to the point of illness, as this student had failed two portions of the test last year. What happens when a student has a poor day on testing? They are labeled with that test score for their HS career.
I like the idea of an International Baccalaureate program where each student must complete projects in each area of education, creating a portfolio of accomplishment that will carry them wherever they want to go. This is how we change education for our kids. Use testing as a tool versus having that test have that much of an impact on a students future.
