It's not unusual for me to wake up in the morning and just lay here thinking about my family and current events of life. So, this morning, one of the thoughts that came to me was "when did the schools become so worried with their ranking?" Growing up, I was either blind to it or we didn't have it bc I don't ever remember waking up in elementary or high school so excited to be attending an "A or B" ranked school. I knew I was going to a good school bc I enjoyed my teachers and... the overall experience. I may be wrong, but I just don't see high schoolers caring, even today, what ranking their school is unless the staff and admins build it up to the point that the student can't seem to get away from it.
You see, this ranking system isn't about the students. It's about bragging rights and money. Sure, it's great when a school earns good reviews and they can acknowledge the success of their students and teachers but to acknowledge them with a "rank or grade" isn't always telling of the lives inside of that school.
The idea of these rankings being tied to these test, no longer makes schools accountable to the students, it makes the students accountable to the schools. It's no longer about what the school can do for the student but what can the student do for the school. The pressure to perform becomes the key element in learning. It's no longer about doing your best but about always being the best. Doing your best can't always be measured with a ranking or grade. And it certainly shouldn't be tied to tests that dictate those rankings and funds.
I heard 2 moms talking at our baseball game last night. They were frustrated with the amount of homework their children had this weekend and all other nights. While they might not be pressuring their children to be the best in their school, the schools are pressuring the kids to make them a highly ranked school. These parents were recollecting the days they enjoyed school and didn't remember having to do this much work and taking these many tests. I highly doubt they went to a ranked school, either. And you know, these parents are successful. One even owns her own business that is thriving.
JFK had it right about our country, he was referring to adults, grown citizens. But as we rear our children to be responsible citizens and adults...we shouldn't be asking what our children can do for our schools but what can our schools do for our children. Those rankings fall on the shoulders of our most vulnerable and that is no burden a child, who needs to enjoy learning should have to deal with.
And for the record, I'm not advocating mediocrity in the system, I believe children need to be and should be encouraged to do their best but that is a different facet in life then pressuring children to be the best.
....This blog is going to be random to those who don't know my fight against Common Core. Common Core is one of the reasons I pulled my children to homeschool them, however, it's not the only reason. The federal government becoming more increasingly involved in schools is a reason also with Common Core being a venue in which they do it. So many voters are simply ignorant, apathetic or both of the depth the Federal government has gone to involve itself in the every day routine of the public school classroom. If you are true, grassroots conservative, then you should familiarize yourself to the issues of Common Core and No Child Left Behind. If you unwillingly do not, I consider you apathetic. Harsh, maybe, but it's your tax money and the future of our nation that is at stake and to turn a blind eye is irresponsible.
The idea of these rankings being tied to these test, no longer makes schools accountable to the students, it makes the students accountable to the schools. It's no longer about what the school can do for the student but what can the student do for the school. The pressure to perform becomes the key element in learning. It's no longer about doing your best but about always being the best. Doing your best can't always be measured with a ranking or grade. And it certainly shouldn't be tied to tests that dictate those rankings and funds.
I heard 2 moms talking at our baseball game last night. They were frustrated with the amount of homework their children had this weekend and all other nights. While they might not be pressuring their children to be the best in their school, the schools are pressuring the kids to make them a highly ranked school. These parents were recollecting the days they enjoyed school and didn't remember having to do this much work and taking these many tests. I highly doubt they went to a ranked school, either. And you know, these parents are successful. One even owns her own business that is thriving.
JFK had it right about our country, he was referring to adults, grown citizens. But as we rear our children to be responsible citizens and adults...we shouldn't be asking what our children can do for our schools but what can our schools do for our children. Those rankings fall on the shoulders of our most vulnerable and that is no burden a child, who needs to enjoy learning should have to deal with.
And for the record, I'm not advocating mediocrity in the system, I believe children need to be and should be encouraged to do their best but that is a different facet in life then pressuring children to be the best.
....This blog is going to be random to those who don't know my fight against Common Core. Common Core is one of the reasons I pulled my children to homeschool them, however, it's not the only reason. The federal government becoming more increasingly involved in schools is a reason also with Common Core being a venue in which they do it. So many voters are simply ignorant, apathetic or both of the depth the Federal government has gone to involve itself in the every day routine of the public school classroom. If you are true, grassroots conservative, then you should familiarize yourself to the issues of Common Core and No Child Left Behind. If you unwillingly do not, I consider you apathetic. Harsh, maybe, but it's your tax money and the future of our nation that is at stake and to turn a blind eye is irresponsible.
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