The Stars at Night
My class took two tests on Friday before spring break. On the science test there was a question (a horrible question in my opinion, but these are district tests) that asked the children to "Add three objects to the picture to show it was night." The question had a picture of a very basic house, and a line to show ground. The kids drew the pictures, and then told me what they drew and I recorded it (this is more accurate than trying to decode their emergent writing). I got the usual, stars, moon, dark sky. There were a few bats, a comet, and an owl. One little boy even shaded in the windows and said, "Well, the lights are all off in the house because they are sleeping."
Then I got this answer:
"Flower, people driving cars, and a picket sign."
No, I didn’t laugh, at least not until all the kids were gone. I actually forgot about this little gem, until I started grading their tests today.
This is why it is so important for standardized, and generalized tests to become obsolete. People cannot be rated upon tests. If I were a teacher in that position I would focus upon that student to see if he/she shows any actual learning disabilities. There are numerous reasons to why they would provide that answer. And just because someone gets something wrong does not mean they do not have other
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good qualities about them. It is absurd to think our society and culture drives children to excel in areas of education in order to “compete” in some global “market.” Much needs to be done with the bureacracy in our schools.
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