Education

This morning’s paper featured a first-page article on education. I admit, I don’t read every article in the newspaper every day, but this one caught my eye. Schools have been using the SOL or Standard of Learning process for quite a while. Basically what has happened is the teachers “teach to the test”. Scores were measured by AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress targets. Now under the new system the pass rates will be based on AMO or Annual Measured Objectives.


Then the multi-page article goes on to explain the various categories and “classes” of these objectives. And here is where I have a problem with this system. It divides the students into the following groups: all, Asian, White, Hispanic, Black, English language learners, economically disadvantaged, and students with disabilities. These groups have different pass percentage rates. Now I certainly agree that a student with a disability, either physical or mental, should be taught and graded accordingly. But to divide all the other students like this smacks of prejudice and bigotry, the very things the USA is trying not to have! And yes, I realize that they aren’t really going to be physically separating the students into these categories; they are just sorting their scores.
 Why should one group be required to have a higher score to pass than another?   Why is one “class” required to do better than another? Why the differences? Seems to me the students should be tested on the same scale and scored by the same. It should not matter where they came from or what color their skin.  How about just having all the students studying and trying to do really well?

What is wrong with going back to having qualified teachers spend their time actually teaching a subject? The students should do their work, study and when they take a test be graded accordingly. If they work hard and do well, they get a good grade. If they goof off or don’t care and don’t do well, they can study harder and try again. If they don’t pass, they can take that grade over again the next year. This system worked years ago; I know, I was in it and I worked hard for my good grades.

I would like to see children know how to tell time on a regular “old fashioned” clock. I’d like to see them be able to find countries on a map. And count change. And write in script. Old fashioned? You bet!  but good basic knowledge. They should learn about classic literature and history and be able to add without a calculator and using their fingers. And let’s throw in memorize and recite the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and the Gettysburg Address, too.  And of course, make sure the students are well schooled in the ever changing technology of our time!

The whole mind set in schools of “everyone needs to be a winner and get a trophy” bugs me also. Do well and be rewarded. Don’t and suffer the consequences. That applies to adults as well as children.

And these are my thoughts for the day. Stay safe!