With more and more emphasis being placed on academic assessments, our children are being tested and tested. While it is necessary to measure progress over time, it is just plain excessive to force children in kindergarten and first grade to start worrying about passing state assessment tests. While the No Child Left Behind Law was probably conceived with the best of intentions, it is having a host of negative consequences for children and their schools. Children who are not cognitively impaired (Mentally Handicapped) are exempt from taking the test is most areas. However, woe to the child with a severe learning disability or language processing disorder. Quite often, they don't fit into the neat 'exemption' category. As a consequence, younger children are developing test anxiety as they are pushed to meet states standards. Should schools be held accountable for what they teach? Absolutely. Should children be enourage to strive to do their best? Yes, indeed. Should schools who are in desperate need of additional funds to procure the technological and instructional materials and personnel their children need be penalized because they were graded a "D" or "F" school? No way! Perhaps, a majority of a school's population has not had the experiences or exposure to concepts that higher achieving schools and students have been. These are the students who need the extra money in their schools to procure the necessary technology and materials to bring them along in their learning. Newer technologies are motivating in their interaction with students. A good teacher can prepare their students for testing in ways that are not threatening or anxiety producing. No child should be left behind because of their home environment, lack of motivating materials in their schools or teachers without the skills to teach with excitement and knowledge. |
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