Realistic CCRAP ?

In our district, spring time doesn't mean warm weather, flowers blooming and the excitement that builds as we get closer to summer (and summer break).  It means it's time for that CCRAP again.

CCRAP is unrealistic.  We all know that, and yet it continues on.  It tears precious time out of the classroom where kids could actually be learning (and maybe even ENJOYING) something (anything!) and shoves them in front of computers where they answer pointless questions in order to get scores that show how good the school district is (or isn't) and how ready they are for college and careers.  (REALLY??? It's ridiculous in my book for a high school student, but for middle school and/or elementary???)

But what do I know...I'm just a parent? A parent who went to school and graduated.  (Not top of the class, but not bottom either.)  A parent who went to college and graduated.  (Not top of the class, but not bottom either.)  A parent who works outside of the home to pay for everything that you have pay for in life (or try to).  A parent who is trying to raise a well-rounded and well-mannered kid.  So what the heck do I know about assessing readiness for college and careers?  (Remember, you can't spell assess or assessment without ASS...which I think pretty much sums it all up.)

You want to know (I refuse to use the word assess...but there I just did, so who's the ASS now???) if a child/young adult is ready for college and/or career?  Here are some "tests" that would give a much more realistic view:
  • The Morning Test:  This test gets more complex as the child gets older.  Starting out with just learning how to set an alarm clock.  Processes to more complexity as it includes: setting the alarm, getting out of bed when the alarm goes off within 20 minutes, picking out appropriate clothes, getting dressed and making/eating breakfast.  All would have to be within a prescribed time frame.
  • The Transportation Test:  Does the student know how to use public transportation to get from point A to point B?  Can he/she read and understand a bus/train/boat schedule?  Does student know how to make exact change for the driver?  For the upper high school level, there would be a driving test.  Final would include driving or taking public transportation to airport and going through TSA to appropriate flight gate.
  • Interview Test:  (Grade 8 and up). Student is interviewed as if applying for college or job.  Written thank you test follows.
  • Balanced Meal Test:  Starting in grade 2, the student is asked to make a sandwich and pour a glass of water.  As student advances through various stages, culminating in making a complete meal (using utensils and stove) that is nutritional sound.
  • Laundry Test:  Elementary level is simple folding; high school level includes multiple loads to wash and dry, ironing, folding, putting away AND making a bed.
  • Finance Test:  Elementary level is balancing a checkbook.  Middle school includes calculating tips and figuring out sales tax.  High school level final is correctly filling out a tax form and successfully mailing it to the IRS (requires going to the post office and figuring out postal costs.)
There are other examples that I could come up with that would not only show preparedness for college and/or career but also life.  And most of the above examples require math and literacy skills that apply to daily life.  (Real life!  What a concept!)  Wouldn't that be better, not only for our children, but for our society as a whole?  

Now, I know this is never going to happen, but doesn't it make more sense?  Letting teachers TEACH skills that apply to life.  Letting teachers do what they do best!  (That would be teach and not proctor endless tests.)  Students would benefit by learning what they truly need to know for not only college and career but for life.  Parents would benefit!  (Can you imagine prepping a kid for test by having them cook a meal?  Do the family laundry?  BLISS!)  Society would benefit!

It's a pipe dream...to say good bye to CCRAP and hello to real life skills...but it’s MY pipe dream and I'm going to keep dreaming it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We Have Taken America Back

Image
Back to a time when all men (and women) are not created equal.  Where women's healthcare is determined by men's laws and not by medical professionals. Where education tells only the "winning" side of the story and truth does not matter.  Where banning and burning books is a social event.  Where people who are "different" than those in power can be mocked, shunned and hurt with no real consequences. Where lies are acceptable and integrity is  just a word on a page We have moved into a time where rage is the rage.  Where hate is not just normal, but accepted and even cheered. Where leaders can ask to have their "enemies" killed and no one will bat an eye.  Where it's "funny" to see someone struggle.  Where felony is applauded. Where compassion is not shown and caring for others is looked down upon. We have taken America back to a time of pain and suffering for many.  Back to when the "haves" can have and the have nots don'...
Read more

It's Not About Starbucks (or is it)?

Image
  About a block and a half from my home in a major intersection.  At the southeast corner (which is nearest to me), is an empty building.  Back in 1995 it was a Bank of NY (I remember this because they didn't shovel/de-ice their parking lot well and my husband fell and broke his ankle one Monday morning.  I recall this clearly because we were not yet married and it was the first day of a new job for me.  I had gotten on the bus to work and he was catching a later one; only he never got there.  Instead he ended up laying on the ground until an employee came to open up the bank.  Then he had them call an ambulance AND my mother who took control of the situation until I arrived home that night blissfully unaware of what had happened that day.)  It eventually became a Chase Bank; the second one in my small little town.  It eventually closed.  I'm not sure when but it's been empty for quite a long time.  (I do know that it was open in 20...
Read more

As Is

Image
  Today I want to discuss what I think it is a relatively simple concept, but may be difficult for some, even an attorney who might have once, over a decade ago won a  prestigious award  for young lawyers .  That term is "AS IS." As you may know, I volunteer in a thrift shop.  Everything we sell, from all the donations we receive, is "as is."  The items are not brand new.  They are not perfect.  That doesn't mean they aren't any good or worth something. They are sold "as is."  Buyers should go in knowing that. (After all you are shopping in a thrift shop!)  In some cases, particularly when we are offering higher end products, we will actually write on the price tag, "as is." Such is the case of two designer purses that I purchased from there this summer.  (I'm a purse-aholic!  Don't look in my closet.)  They were reasonably priced (especially when you consider the name brand), but each had an "as is" clearly marked o...
Read more