As an educator it is almost impossible to avoid the federal government's Race to the Top initiative. I read this article from the Washington Post and just had to laugh. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/26/the-white-houses-useless-race-to-the-top-report/
It is a couple of months old, but it does illustrate how disconnectedness our leaders really are from the people they affect with their policy. People on both sides of the isle seem to loathe equally Race to the Top. Yet, the agenda continues forward. The federal government threatens the states. The state governments threaten school district leaders. District leaders threaten school administrators. School administrators threaten teachers. Teachers threaten students. Students do better? Nope...
We're either invested in education or we aren't. Forcing us all into a marathon doesn't change a thing. Moreover forcing us all into the exact same race in counter productive. I coached and played several different sports. I'm not what you would call a sports guy, but I think this does make a good analogy. I really enjoy track and field. Some athletes are built for throwing shotput or discuss, some for running hurdles, others for sprinting, others for distance, and others are better jumpers. Some athletes can effectively compete in multiple events, but many cannot. Some aren't much good at any of the track and field events, but are great at something else. That doesn't mean they aren't excellent athletes. Others still aren't athletic at all, but are very competitive and very successful in other areas. In school, however, we don't except less that great from any student in any area. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all be great at everything?
Actually, no. We are individuals with individual strengths and weaknesses. If we really wanted to do what was best for our children, wouldn't we find ways to help them excel as individuals? Wouldn't we help them to hone their individual strengths and not burden them with the stress of high stakes standardized testing? This is exactly the opposite of what Race to the Top (and NCLB before it) does. We browbeat teachers and students until they pass or quit...
