Wyndsong’s Sacred Place

Because we’re going through a charter school, my boys have to take the standardized tests. I hate this! It’s one of the things that I dislike most about the charter schools. But while I’m still working full time, there are comprimisises that need to be taken, and this is one of those.

Next week, my 12 year old is going to be taking a writing analysis test. We’re practicing for it all this week. I don’t really care what the test has to say, I don’t believe in tests, it’s just something that we have to do to be able to continue with the charter school. I don’t think he’s nervous, if he is, he’s not telling me, but I am nervous. I hate tests, I hated them when I was a kid, and it’s one of the minor reasons I homeschool (there are many reasons I home school, most of the reasons are much more important than not liking tests). I’m not nervous because I’m worried Jack might not do well, tests just make me nervous.

The reason I don’t believe in tests is because I don’t believe they show anything more than whether or not the child can TAKE a test, and sometimes it’ll show if a child can memorize or can give lip service. That’s what I did as a child, I just gave lip service. I knew what the teachers wanted me to say, so that’s what I said. Even if it was wrong. That didn’t last too long though, by the time I was in Jr. High, lip service was no longer ok with me. Needless to say my grades plummetted.

Anyway, I think that i’ve given my boys enough confidence in themselves for them to know that a test doesn’t mean anything about what they know or how smart they are. Which is why they don’t seem anxoius about these stupid tests. That means I’ve done my job!

So now, after all that complaining, you’re probably wondering why in HELL i would have my kids in a charter school. I have a few reasons why I have them in a charter school. The biggest reason is because I’m working fulltime, and don’t have the time to create a curriculum myself, and because I’m not making a ton of money, I can’t afford to buy a ready made curriculum. So a charter school is the best option for my family. It’s not perfect, and there are things that I don’t like about it, but really, it’s better than sending them to a public school.