Next week, my oldest daughter will begin her first round of many years of standardized testing. In Maryland, all 3rd and 5th graders (maybe 4th?) take the Maryland School Assessment. In other words, my daughter's score will only mean that her school will either benefit or rate poorly based on her performance.
We received a note about this assessment, begging and pleading with us to make sure our children get plenty of sleep, come to school on time and are not absent for a single day. This, apparently, will "greatly benefit" our child. Really? How?? Well, I won't get into the debate on testing because I do understand that there are limited ways to effectively "grade" schools! I mean, you wouldn't visit them, interview students and parents, teachers and staff or go out of your way to find out what this school offers that that school doesn't. It's easier to just create a unified test, tell the teachers what will be on it so that they teach only those things very, very well and forgo teaching things they might believe are important or reteach things that the students didn't quite understand. No time for that!
I'm being a little sarcastic, but I'm not vindictive. I'll buy into the plenty of rest, a good breakfast routine. I can pay my dues and play my part in making our fine educational institute shine. But there is this one thing.... "brain food." Apparently, in the third grade, the kids will be provided with a snack that parents have been asked to provide. They are calling it "brain food" and it consists of orange slices and raisins. This will be the one and only snack for 4 days of testing!! Now, I'm all about keeping it simple, but my child won't eat either of those. So, will she not be as smart as her peers who like that food? will she peeter out before the end of day 2? will she be the only child in the class who won't smell like oranges or have her entire test paper sticky from citric acid???
I asked today if we could also send in bunches of bananas for those who do not like oranges and raisins. At first, I was informed that many others had asked the same question, so I know my child is not the only one who will be brainless. Then today I got the answer - No. This is not a food source (even though they have a "snack" everyday at 11:30 because lunch is not served until 1pm!!!!!!), it is solely for "brain boosting" purposes. Wow. I'm quite certain I don't know what to say. I had no idea that only oranges and raisins can boost a brain. Is that where I have gone tragically wrong in my own life??
For Kt's sake, I'm hoping the cup of water she gets boosts her brain enough to survive the rest of her long, tedious morning of testing. If anything, it will send her straight to the bathroom in the middle of a test. Should I send her in Pull-ups? Oh, well.... think of the most time-consuming fruit to prepare for a snack, that will require a parent to breech the innermost sanctum of testing to deliver, ask for them to bring that 4 days..... there you have it? I think the person who came up with this idea ought to be eating some REAL brain food!
3 comments:
This is a concept that has always bothered me - at least when my kids were dealing with standardized testing.
Think about this - Regardless of what the "brain food" is, if it is so beneficial to the child, shouldn't the child have it every single day and not just on the days when they are being tested?
In our school district, free breakfast is offered for all children on the days of testing because it starts their day (and brain off right). I have a real problem with that. Offer free breakfast every single day then!
If the children are truly the #1 priority here (as they should be!) then give them their brain food and free breakfast every school day, not just on the days when you need your school statistics to look their best.
The children are getting caught up in this and is sickening.
Lately, T has been using this phrase with me: So, tell us how you REALLY feel! I have to laugh, because I can really get going. I agree with you 100% - if your child is more valuable on test day, there's a problem!! Unfortunately, having been a teacher, I understand the pressure on THEM to perform. These tests should NEVER be a measuring stick for a teacher, but they are sometimes used that way, therefore creating these ridiculous rituals of brain food. What a warped education system we have!
I agree with you Deanna! In my town the third through 12th graders are being tested for these two weeks, in the morning only. The teachers are not to even to step into the hallway. Should they, or one of the children need to go to the bathroom, a sign is to be placed in the window of the door in order for one of the "hall monitors" to escort the child to the bathroom, or to watch the class while the teacher goes. The tests are kept under lock and key and even the teachers may not look at them ahead of the testing time.
In one school in my town, the whole student body is to stay in their rooms until the morning testing is completed. Why don't they just call in the FBI to monitor the test? Just kidding.
However, we have no snack restrictions! That is taking it to the ridiculous! How about sending in a bag of "Smart Food?" LOL
Tell K good luck from me!
Love,
Mom
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