Love all of this (except the end maybe, I’m not so sure that overtesting is the biggest problem in schools, I tend to feel that society and where kids are emotionally/spiritually is actually the biggest problem in schools. . .I would say that for humble, patient and intellectually curious students with a strong work ethic who are being taught well at home and in school, most essay prompts, forum posts and even tests shouldn’t be “meaningless”, they should be opportunities to utilize and practice needed skills-like critical thinking!- and to implement the very needed life discipline of “doing what’s in front of you”. The biggest problem IMO is that the number of humble, patient and intellectually curious students with strong work ethics who are being taught well at home and at school is unfortunately low.)
Also a public school parent here, albeit a charter.
But yeah, I 100% agree with everything else. Everything is teaching when people like it and indoctrination when they don’t. (That criticism stands for far right and far left, as I live in an extremely blue enclave and am equally likely to hear local parents fearing religious “indoctrination” due to a preschool teacher mentioning that Christmas has something to do with someone named Jesus, as I am to hear conservatives online crying “indoctrination” because a 5th grade teacher taught that Jim Crow laws were still in place when the kids’ grandparents were alive.)
Finally. This comment is way too long, sorry, but thank you so much for your footnote on “woke”, as a Black woman the co-opting absolutely drives me up the wall. That’s a soapbox for another day!
Yes, you’re likely right that over testing isn’t the biggest problem. It’s my pet problem, so I am prone to overstate it. That last section was written quickly and passionately in comparison to the rest, which was careful and grueling.
Okay, good to know others are bothered by the co-opting of woke. Unfortunately, I think they know it bothers people and that’s partly why they keep using it. Worse, the JD Vance’s of the nation probably know its original meaning and misuse it regardless.
Love all of this (except the end maybe, I’m not so sure that overtesting is the biggest problem in schools, I tend to feel that society and where kids are emotionally/spiritually is actually the biggest problem in schools. . .I would say that for humble, patient and intellectually curious students with a strong work ethic who are being taught well at home and in school, most essay prompts, forum posts and even tests shouldn’t be “meaningless”, they should be opportunities to utilize and practice needed skills-like critical thinking!- and to implement the very needed life discipline of “doing what’s in front of you”. The biggest problem IMO is that the number of humble, patient and intellectually curious students with strong work ethics who are being taught well at home and at school is unfortunately low.)
Also a public school parent here, albeit a charter.
But yeah, I 100% agree with everything else. Everything is teaching when people like it and indoctrination when they don’t. (That criticism stands for far right and far left, as I live in an extremely blue enclave and am equally likely to hear local parents fearing religious “indoctrination” due to a preschool teacher mentioning that Christmas has something to do with someone named Jesus, as I am to hear conservatives online crying “indoctrination” because a 5th grade teacher taught that Jim Crow laws were still in place when the kids’ grandparents were alive.)
Finally. This comment is way too long, sorry, but thank you so much for your footnote on “woke”, as a Black woman the co-opting absolutely drives me up the wall. That’s a soapbox for another day!
Thank you for this comment Rebecca!
Yes, you’re likely right that over testing isn’t the biggest problem. It’s my pet problem, so I am prone to overstate it. That last section was written quickly and passionately in comparison to the rest, which was careful and grueling.
Okay, good to know others are bothered by the co-opting of woke. Unfortunately, I think they know it bothers people and that’s partly why they keep using it. Worse, the JD Vance’s of the nation probably know its original meaning and misuse it regardless.
Good follow up from your first post; food for thought.