Why Testing isn't the answer

» Terrie_Bittner - What a great article!

What a great article! I homeschool my children and I have completely enjoyed the freedom to avoid those stupid tests. We did once think we were moving to a state that required standardized testing of homeschoolers, so we began studying for them. I was shocked by the change in my children. They dreaded starting school. They were bored and even stressed, since a homeschooler who does badly on a test is no longer allowed to homeschool. All the real learning was gone. Before, they had wandered happily through Shakespeare, historians and scientists, never touching a textbook or test prep book. They were really learning just for the fun of it, and were becoming lifelong learners who took full responsibility for their educations. The testing destroyed that. We decided not to take the offered job just to avoid making this our new school life.

Tests don't tell you what a child has learned. If you want to know if a child is educated...see if he learns for the fun of it and knows how to learn? What else matters in the long run?

-- posted by Terrie_Bittner

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» colleenmwilliams - Hi, Patricia,

Once again, let me say that I am pleased to be back. Your article was stimulating and well worth my valuable time. Thanks for a job well done!

-- posted by colleenmwilliams

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