Today my heart was very hurt and heavy! A 5th grader was devastated because he didnt pass the STAAR-Modified Math. He studies, he does his homework, he goes to tutoring and he even prayed to pass. But his self-esteem was totally deflated, when he received the news he wasnt successful. He did his best. He felt as though everything that he accomplished this year was negated by that one day...that one 4 hour time block...that one test that shouts to the world I made it or I didnt. Is a test thats taken after 24 weeks of instruction which is meant to measure 36 weeks of instruction worth the the tears of this young man? Or is it worth the tears of his mother, who has done everything to support and encourage her son? So how do we prepare him for the test next year when there isnt a modified test and he is expected to train in one environment in the classroom and compete in a grander scale on the day of testing? It took everything I had to encourage the young and his mother without admitting that its a broken system and many children are being left behind! I had to remind him that the fact is you didnt pass. But the truth is you are so much more than a number or the results of one test. This young man is one of many that received this news today! Pray because educators, parents and students will start the process of preparing for the second attempt at passing a test that measures a moment and does not adequately judge ones potential. However, it can truly paralyze and perpetuate enough fear to choke hope and desire to even try right out of our children. It is better to BUILD strong children, then to REPAIR broken men. ~ Frederick Douglass
Posted on: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 03:23:06 +0000
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