I actually agree with this article/video clip. I think that students (they are kids let's remember!) are under an enormous amount of pressure to succeed. And not just get by, but really portray exemplary work with outstanding skills in all subject areas and ultimately make it to college. It is very stressful. I remember in my personal 4 years of high school alone, I was affected by at least 4 deaths. Three of which were suicide. With the speakers last statement, I totally agree. If increasing rates of suicide are the outcome, something is clearly wrong. I understand that not all of the pressure comes from a school atmosphere, that it CAN provide students with the exact opposite effect if they do not have a good home life, but I seriously doubt in most cases that it does not at least contribute to the stress of these children.
I also really liked the plant analogy the author drew upon. It is spot on! My cooperating teacher references Richard Feynman on a daily basis with his regard to education. Feynman says that you give students every opportunity to succeed with every bit of effort you can, displaying the content in multiple ways, reaching out to every student, and in the end the student decides whether they are going to use what you have given them to succeed in education or if they are going to sit on their hands. At some point, though it may be far fetched, a student must choose to learn. They must choose to succeed.
I do believe as the new generation of educators it is our job to help "reform" the education system. We are taught to move away from the traditional classroom setting, providing opportunities to students who express themselves differently and learn differently. I think this is the way we must turn over a leaf in the every day classroom. We can not control standardization or test scores or college admissions, so we must focus on the children as children and as students, making education relevant and exciting to bring out each individuals strengths and passions.
If at some point in our careers we stop caring about individual students, stop getting angry or upset about standardization/testing, and stop putting every bit of effort into our classrooms, we should probably stop teaching. On a lighter note, I have faith in all of us, both as new educators and as honest and caring people :)
I really agree with everything you said in your response.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I want to pose a question. Do you think the people who imposed the standardized testing practices aren't thinking about what's best for the students?
I expect they would try very hard to defend their decisions and actions as being in the best interest of their students... just like we defend our choice to use inquiry in our classrooms.
I agree with what you are talking about here. I feel to achieve what you are discussing there should be an element of creativity. How does one incorporate creativity in an environment that is not conducive? What are you going to do to encourage such activities?
ReplyDeleteI really like your response. It is hard to judge how each student will respond to our teaching and the pressures of "success". Success can be measured in many ways and I think that is one thing as teachers we need to stres to students. Positive reinforcement for success is a great start to keeping kids motivated, and their heads above water so to speak. Let us all work to help students from becoming, or feeling overwhelmed. I also agree that students ultimately must choose to learn. I am still working with how I personally will steer students towards making that choice. My students right now are more than lazy and choosing to learn is a major issue. So far my students haven't taken too well to me trying to help them individually. I offer myself to them whenever they need it and they don't seem to care. They don't come to me and ask for help, then complain when they don't understnad. I don't know what to do right now to solve this problem, but I hope that it will be easier when it is my class and not the class that I am student teaching in.
ReplyDeleteSweetDisplayName (I am thinking this is Jay..just a guess),
ReplyDeleteGood question. No I do not believe those who came up with standardized tests did not think what was best for students when they implemented these standards. I think they utimately want students to be competitive with others and show what they have learned in the most uniform way possible. I am not even saying that they are not necessary. I just think that those who came up with the tests may not be classroom teachers or have ever been classroom teachers. In VA administrators don't ever have to stand in front of the classroom. I think this is where mistakes are made. Teachers and parents are the ones day in and day out with the students witnessing the stresses that these standards cause children. Maybe a more collaborative approach on the testing? I am not really sure of the answer.