Pedogegy Forum, Week 9

I wanted to expand on some earlier comments made during my response to Brian's blog. Education reform is a topic of debate, but everything I hear doesn't come close to solving the problem. Today, I gave the PSAT and I'm looking at variety of students taking the test. A majority of the students are trying, but I focused on the ones are not taking the test seriously. I wanted one student just stare around the class for three hours and not answer one question. What makes a student do that? I know these students are tested to death, but I tried with all my might to tell them how it would help them prepare for the SAT and the Graduation test. In the end, it was not enough because I know that student is not going to college. I've had that student before, but yet here she is wasting three hours of her time taking a test she doesn't care about and, even more scary, doesn't understand at all. Why are we forcing our students down this path towards college?

I fundamentally disagree with the one approach method to schooling. Some children just are not college material. The problem is that politicians don't get elected by saying some students don't need to go to college. There is another side of this issue as well. Not to sound like a conspiracy, but I'm sure colleges and the federal government want their loans to be taken out. I was fortunate enough to have my college paid for during my undergrad and master's programs. During this ED.S. degree, I've paid cash along the way. But what about the student who attends one year of college and takes out 30,000 in loans? I'm sure there are cases of these people succeeding and paying back loans, but what about the ones suffer through years of repayment?

It all goes towards a philosophy that all students are not equal. I hate to be the one that says it, but i truly believe that some students excel in academics and others are better at sports. So why do we force tests down our students throats all the time? This class has inspired me to try new things, but I highly doubt I'm publishing books on poetry any time soon. It has given me an appreciation and skills to improve my teaching, which is what I was looking for in the class. What skills are we giving our students? Most of them know how to fill in bubble on a standardized test, that's for sure. I'm sorry if this seems like a long rant. As educators it is important that find out what is truly important to our students and help them find ways to meet those goals. What do you guys think?