Many elementary schools have adopted policies that demand its teachers adhere to prescribed curriculums so that students’ chances of scoring successfully on standardized tests improves. Teachers who do not agree with the rigorous constraints cannot challenge their superiors without fear of jeopardizing their careers. And so, we have a state full of classrooms with many unhappy, unmotivated teachers teaching our children. I wonder what our children are learning and more importantly, what aren’t they being encouraged to do, think, and learn. What happens when children stop playing, for there is no time, stop creating, for there may be more than one proper response, and stop questioning, for that is not required to pass the test? Will our children become stifled? Will their responses become programmed? Will the teachers forget, or not have the time/energy to teach towards children’s different learning styles? Will they “listen” to our children’s social, emotional, physical, artistic, and play needs or will the pressure of their “pass rate” supersede everything else?
As the creator of Magical Moments, a hands-on, brain-based early childhood curriculum, I advocate that teachers, administrators, and parent representatives plan cooperatively. High standards and educational goals should be established so that children love learning, where success is based on the child, and where self esteem and self confidence are applauded. Let’s rededicate the classrooms back to our teachers and children…
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