Not the fault of testing alone. But where do we start? Do we throw our hands up in the air and make schools military states with police roaming hallways, Doesnt seem to be the answer. How about we do the right thing abd begin to teach the next group of adults who are in school now to be better, more responsible adults.
Most Americans do not sit in schools and observe different school settings and only rely on what they see on the news. Many Americans believe what they see on ethe news. Most teachers news is about how awful they are and dont deserve the jobs they have.
Before politicians made it there mission to demonize teachers through the media our school system was producing educated people who were able to function in the working world.
About ten years ago politicians made it their mission to save money on the backs of kids and demonize teachers as all useless. To prove this they convinced the public that the best way to judge the progress of children (and teachers) was through testing. Once the public agreed, all hell broke loose. Its above and beyond what any person could believe is productive. What was lost? Most to all social growth programs including those that help kids deal with anger. They are all gone with extreme cutbacks in Phys Ed, Social Studies, Health, conflict resolution classes, recess, music and art.
All of these programs could help children, but are gone because the public believed the politicians who could give two cents about children.
BTW, next time the public is not impressed with educators, read about the teacher who dove in front of the gunman's shots that took her own life to protect her students. In my opinion most teachers in that position would do the same.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/...ents-at-vigil/