Today was Sophomore testing, the result of our great president's 'No Child Left Behind' act. A shiny standardized test, about 50 questions and 60 minutes to do them. It's not just a test, it's not just to see how you're doing anymore. The principal came on the P.A. this morning and, for the first time ever, urged students to 'do their all and get the best score possible.' Not for their own sake, however.
For the sake of the school. The teachers nervously hinted us that this test was of dire importance when they handed out the packets. Of course, we're now forbidden to bring along any materials for after the test is finished: not homework, not a magazine, not even a classical novel. It was awful. It was stressful, even though I knew I was going to do well.
My science teacher, a very reliable fellow, told of his wife's school district, the one neighboring ours. They have a large population of Southeast Asian students who don't speak English as their main language, so are they given the test in their native language? No. They can't even take it in English. They are forbidden from taking the test, so instead of excluding them, their score counts as a zero towards the average, bringing down their score and their funding.
My homeroom teacher/advisor, who also teaches the learning disabled, spoke of something more horribe: by the year (2008 I believe?) everyone in this nation has to be proficient in all categories. That includes the children that can't dress themselves in the morning or read or speak in simple sentences. How is it fair that a person with a mental disability has to be at the same level as a C student should be? Just another example of how screaming "ACCOUNTABILITY!" on a platform just makes no sense.