Praise The Lord And Pass The TAKS
Children throughout the land this week have been sweating out the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.
Standardized testing these days is scary. Third-, fifth- and eighth-graders must pass TAKS to move on to the next grade. High schoolers must pass it to get a diploma.
I remember taking a lot of standardized tests in school, but the pressure and stakes weren't nearly as high. The tests then seemed no more than a general means of measuring where students stood academically.
Now, the students face the alarming possibility that they won't move on with their peers. I can't imagine how that would affect a kid's self-esteem, particularly when you pile on the inevitable teasing from friends and the parental disappointment.
Last night, I witnessed what might best underscore the TAKS pressure.
My kids on Wednesday nights participate in a church activity known as "Adventure Club." Sometimes they're preparing for a Christmas production or some other kind of performance that will be given to the masses during Sunday church services. Sometimes they just do activities, such as art or sing-alongs or whatever.
Adventure Club ends in the sanctuary, where all the pre-schoolers through sixth-graders unite for a short kiddie church service. There are prayers, worship, birthday acknowledgements and, of course, an offering.
In addition, there is a pass-the-microphone part, where the kids get a chance to say what needs a prayer or a blessing. My kids usually pick the dog or mom. I don't know what that says about me. Maybe they think I'm doing just fine. Most other kids pray for family members.
However, last night, a large portion of the group prayed for success on the TAKS.
I'm not sure what this says about the pressures of grade school these days, but I can only assume the kids are trying to muster all the support they can to avoid getting left behind.
Standardized testing these days is scary. Third-, fifth- and eighth-graders must pass TAKS to move on to the next grade. High schoolers must pass it to get a diploma.
I remember taking a lot of standardized tests in school, but the pressure and stakes weren't nearly as high. The tests then seemed no more than a general means of measuring where students stood academically.
Now, the students face the alarming possibility that they won't move on with their peers. I can't imagine how that would affect a kid's self-esteem, particularly when you pile on the inevitable teasing from friends and the parental disappointment.
Last night, I witnessed what might best underscore the TAKS pressure.
My kids on Wednesday nights participate in a church activity known as "Adventure Club." Sometimes they're preparing for a Christmas production or some other kind of performance that will be given to the masses during Sunday church services. Sometimes they just do activities, such as art or sing-alongs or whatever.
Adventure Club ends in the sanctuary, where all the pre-schoolers through sixth-graders unite for a short kiddie church service. There are prayers, worship, birthday acknowledgements and, of course, an offering.
In addition, there is a pass-the-microphone part, where the kids get a chance to say what needs a prayer or a blessing. My kids usually pick the dog or mom. I don't know what that says about me. Maybe they think I'm doing just fine. Most other kids pray for family members.
However, last night, a large portion of the group prayed for success on the TAKS.
I'm not sure what this says about the pressures of grade school these days, but I can only assume the kids are trying to muster all the support they can to avoid getting left behind.
posted by Brian Pearson at 10:51 AM
1 Comments:
It really is alarming. My daughter was so upset over having to take the TAKS test yesterday that she was sick to her stomach and crying the night before. She is only in the 3rd grade and is already struggling. Knowing she wont go onto the next grade if she doesnt pass this stupid test makes it worse.
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