While I support opening up more educational opportunities for young people, the classroom time waster of standardized tests must end.
When students are taught to the test, they learn to retain facts long enough to get through the test. This does not create a society that values or is capable of critical thought. Until our schools teach critical thinking and independent study first, either K-12 or preK-14, both models will be doomed to fail.
I get that the easiest way to expand child care would be offering full day pre K so parents can work, so good for that. Many jobs and professions need extra education after high school, so free community college makes a lot of sense. But how much classroom time is wasted on standardized tests, that could be spent teaching young people useful skills.
As a friend of my daughter put it, with sarcasm, "I'm so glad I learned all those facts long enough to do well on the tests, but what I really wish I'd learned was how to do my taxes."
While I support opening up more educational opportunities for young people, the classroom time waster of standardized tests must end.
ReplyDeleteWhen students are taught to the test, they learn to retain facts long enough to get through the test. This does not create a society that values or is capable of critical thought. Until our schools teach critical thinking and independent study first, either K-12 or preK-14, both models will be doomed to fail.
I get that the easiest way to expand child care would be offering full day pre K so parents can work, so good for that. Many jobs and professions need extra education after high school, so free community college makes a lot of sense. But how much classroom time is wasted on standardized tests, that could be spent teaching young people useful skills.
As a friend of my daughter put it, with sarcasm, "I'm so glad I learned all those facts long enough to do well on the tests, but what I really wish I'd learned was how to do my taxes."