Bam

I saw a post today on Facebook that I just had to share... and comment on... and share some more. Then I figured, I need to share it again on here.

So here’s the photo:

And now here’s my post:

Oh my goodness. This. This is the point of all the “crazy changes” to education. There were no “benefits” to anyone of the traditional instruction and grading system. I think about all the folks I went to high school with (KMHS fostered some great people through their halls) and I can’t help but wonder what would have happened for us if we didn’t have things like standardized tests and GPAs to remind us of where we were in line. If we are successful in the current educational system, the traditional one, there’s a small part of that due to our skill set, knowledge, etc. But the larger part of it is the game and how ready and willing we were to play it.

Now I am not in the slightest suggesting that teachers we have had aren’t amazing. I mean I’m a teacher now and chose this profession. I still think fondly of teachers like Mrs. Keeter, Mrs. Ellis, Mrs. Kendrick, Mrs. Lattimore, Mrs. Hendricks, and countless others. They knew that relationships with us as students were important to foster. They taught us information and skills and modeled for us how to be good people. They showed us how important we were and how important we would continue to be. But their hands were tied because of this system. 

When I was in 4th grade my Mom got a call from Mrs. London at home. She was calling to tell her that I didn’t pass the writing test that year. Not only did I not pass but I got a 1. I read the prompt incorrectly and wrote an essay on the wrong question. She was calling to tell my Mom because there was a lunch field trip for those who passed the test, and she knew how upset I would be to not pass and not go on out to lunch. And she was right—I was devastated. I mean here I am, 23 years later and still remember the details of it. For years I not only felt scared of writing assignments, but I was also seriously afraid of the next test in 7th grade. I remember thinking that if I didn’t pass it then, I would then officially be a terrible writer. I mean what?! Why should a kid be made to feel this way?! But it is exactly how it is with our testing, our grading, class rank, etc.

We need to be encouraging ALL our students. We need to be showing them all the possible things and then letting them decide how awesome they want to be at them. We need to let go of those averages that are tied to letters that essentially define a student’s worth and potential. It’s arbitrary and silly. We need to stop testing kids all the time on their growth and progress! Telling a kid in 3rd grade that they are not college and career ready because they didn’t pass a test is CRAZY. Of course they aren’t college and career ready... they are 8 years old!

I’m reading a book called Empower by John Spencer and AJ Juliani. One of them, though I can’t remember which, had a teacher named Mrs. Smoot. One day John or AJ was talking with her about creating something for a project, and he was reluctant to do so. And she said to him, “We rob the world of our creativity when we don’t make anything.” 💥 Bam.

How many people have robbed the world and still continue to do so because they didn’t feel like what they had to bring was good enough?

#dobetter #bebetter #empower

#sorrythiswassolong

I could start all over again about this... I could even give other anecdotes from my life about my time “playing the game” and all I actually got out of it. But I’ll refrain. The point is made. We focus on the wrong things. We’ve got to stop it.