Can Standardized Tests Kill desire for learning?

An interesting article was posted by Professor Harlan about learning and teaching to tests.  As a homeschooling parent and library science student this dichotomy bothers me tremendously.  True learning comes from enjoying and pondering what one reads.  Taking in information and regurgitating it for a test is not actual learning since weeks and months down the road the information is rarely there.

Standardized tests may be a good way to determine if math or science is being learned, but for critical thinking skills, logic, literature understanding and true historical context, basic tests do not begin to determine understanding.   In the article, the author discusses an assignment given to her son to read something by Edgar Allen Poe.   Thinking that the class will be discussing the same story or poem, the author envisions tweens learning from the discussion more than from the reading itself as is common for most people.  Unfortunately, each student will be reading and reporting on a different story or poem which will not allow for any further learning by the students during the discussion. 

When education became more about teaching to the tests and less about true learning, children of all ages began to lose some of the fun that could be found in learning.  While most tweens these days would probably refuse to believe parents, teachers, librarians and other adults, it is true that most children of yester year did have a favorite subject in school.  Something that called to them, leading them to more in depth studies and more enjoyment than other topics in school.   For some of us it was reading, others it was math and yet others preferred science or history more than anything else.   All of us to this day have some area of life that we prefer more than others which makes us unique. Tweens and teens are no different. 

Spending time with tweens to help them really understand literature like Poe or Bronte, chemistry, American History or algebra can take more time but leads to true learning which lasts longer and means more.  Unfortunately, most teachers simply do not have the time to delve into these topics but must brush the surface quickly before heading on to the next topic.   Skimming the surface maybe a great way to water ski or go tubeing but it is a terrible way to teach and does all of our children a disservice that will harm them the rest of their lives.

Cyber-bullying... just bullying or more

For decades and centuries, bullying was simply done person to person or through notes or word of mouth.  But now with the creation of computers, email, the Internet and all the new apps, bullying has become easier and more rampant in society.  Unfortunately, it is also less personal when done on-line or via text leading to harsher treatment and worse bullying.  

Other problems with bullying via technology include the larger audience potential, how to punish the bully when the bullying starts off school campus but continues onto campus and when does bullying cross over into harassment?  Many administrators do not really know how to deal with the problems that all this new technology creates.   Gone are the days of a teacher catching a note about someone or hearing girls picking on someone in the bathroom.   Now it is a text message sent to 20 or 30 people with just a few clicks and then spread through the high school within a few minutes at lunch.  What used to take hours or even overnight to spread can now be accomplished in just the few minutes between classes.   For the target of the gossip and bullying, this lightning type spread can be so much more devastating than in days gone by.

Several school districts have had to deal with this issue in the last few years. Between suicides caused by cyber bullying, expulsions from school for off campus problems, trying to create fair but equatable rules regarding bullying, and dealing with modern versions of complaining about teachers, school boards and superintendents must figure out where the line is and how to make each case fit into a box even when it isn't necessarily a square problem. 

This issue is especially important to me as I have watched children struggle with these problems in the last few years.   To see young tweens deal with such hurtful things said and done in an impersonal matter, is frustrating and maddening all together.   A solution needs to be found in the middle ground between free speech and anti-bullying.

Kim, V. (December 13, 2009).  For students, a right to be mean online? Los Angeles Times.  Retrieved from  http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/13/local/la-me-youtube-schools13-2009dec13

Disney shows and what they tell our tweens....

After watching Disney channel, Nick and other childrens shows (including tween shows) for the last 11 years or so, I can honestly say that marketing to each age group has gotten progressively worse as the children have gotten older.    These days, the shows are actually more marketing than even the commercials.   For example, watching a Hannah Montana episode provides not just a fun story line but also plenty of opportunities to see the newest clothes, boots and accessories.  Unfortunately for the parents, those items will be on sale next week or next month for your daughter.   And she will want them!

Phineas and Ferb is a fun little animated show that teaches logic and science in a fast paced, fun way.  But the teen girl in there has the typical attitude which rubs off on many children who watch too much.  Nick is presenting the idea that watching out for younger siblings is a pain that cramps a teen girls style.  Never mind that in most families, sharing responsibilities is still an important part of life.  Oh and she likes to tattle on Phineas which is annoying and presents the image that if you can get someone in trouble, you can perhaps get out of your responsibilities.

Wizards of Waverly place deals with a family of wizards and their antics.  But the main female character, Alex, played by Selena Gomez is another tween idol who provides a "role" model for clothing, accessories, music, etc.  Her behavior on and off screen is watched by the girls and the boys and emulated by the girls. 

For the boys the behavior exhibited by Gomez, Cyrus, and other role models becomes the expected of the girls they know in real life.  This puts these girls in difficult positions because they see the actresses doing things in fictional settings while the boys want the same things in reality.  For young tweens of either gender, it is difficult to know how to handle such situations, especially once they are in the middle of it.

While the story lines of most shows for tweens are fun, there are often subtle things that tweens pick up on.  Each parent must decide for themselves what and if they want their tweens watching shows or not.