Educational Gaff
My daughter recently received a report from school following the completion of her ACT examination. During my review I was appalled to see that her scores included a projection for future work based on her grades. The scoring methods used labeled students into preordained careers based on results. If a child scored poorly educators prognosticated that the future laborer might be best at garbage recycling or light bulb changing. While somewhat better results led to a financier or physician.
It is irksome to see how tomorrow’s workforce is quickly labeled. Is our present world not competitive enough as to deter children from relishing in their dreams? While many quickly detest the profiling needed to safely board an airplane, how is labeling our children any different? Children should be free to discuss, research, attempt and determine their own future, not those sought from a test.
Our history is based on men and women mocked and scorned by those attempting to label individuals. History would be severely altered if individuals such from Jesus to Obama would listen to naysayers. Jesus was labeled for his teachings, Edison for his failures and Obama for his color. Our children do not need deterrents they need support. Educators must allow children to pave the future THEY desire not those found on test scores. Our society thrives on innovation and dreams not the callousness of bureaucracy. The path to success begins with dreams. And those dreams become reality through patience, trial and error not test scores.
2010. Drew Stevens PhD All Rights Reserved.
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