I was not allowed on my children's campus today. I got a letter a few days ago requesting that while parents are encouraged to visit the schools most of the time, the TAKS test would be taking place and everything is not business as usual. My first grade daughter also got her folder signed (that is not good). The comment? "Talking in the hall during TAKS". For at least 3 days during the year there is tension on elementary campuses all across Texas. Of course it is there in middle and high school also but our babies are really feeling the stress. Is it all really necessary? Maybe, maybe not.
On one hand it is understandable. In order to ensure the integrity of the test, everything must be well controlled and monitored. Nobody wants to be accused of cheating. Only authorized personnel are allowed access to the tests as well as the students taking the tests. The teachers are testing administrators for the day. They are bound to a script and inform the students that they may only answer questions about the test itself and not about the questions. The entire school must be quiet to allow the students and teachers to focus on the task at hand.
But is this the best for our kids? Does it really tell you what they know or what they can do? Probably not. We know our kids have a limited attention span. On a regular day, they are shuffled through a variety of lessons and activities. They are timed so that about the time they get bored/restless it is time to put it away and move on. There is down time during each day so the children can burn off energy and talk/play with their friends all in hopes that they "get it out" and work diligently when they are supposed to. But on TAKS day everything is different. They are supposed to focus on essentially one thing all day long. There is no talking (other than small tightly controlled breaks), no recess or p.e. and even lunch is served in the classroom. Some kids walk out of school exhausted. Not because of all the physical activity, but because of the control they had to have over themselves all day. When asked, many kids say they couldn't concentrate because it was "too quiet". That's easy to see when you are used to working in a relaxed environment and it changes suddenly. As with most things, the atmosphere will work for some and not for others. I would love to see how those kids would do under normal circumstances. I think it would be interesting. But in the end, our kids will learn how to deal with things as they are. They are resilient and adaptable and that is just what they need.
