Teaching to the Test

In Diane Ratvich's article, she describes the unjust regulations presented by our former and current serving Presidents for teaching to the test. Teachers are now being judged on how their students do on the tests. Bonuses, tenure, and extermination of a job are all beginning to be based on the students ability to succeed with regards to standardized testing. I for one was horrible when it came to standardized testing in elementary school. I had no idea what I was doing, and although I succeeded in the english portions, I found math extremely troubling and difficult. I would not have found it fair for my teacher's abilities to teach to be based on the fact that I just plain sucked at taking multiple choice tests. My mother is a middle school and high school teacher and I marvel at the fact that she tries on a daily basis to deal with some infuriating students who don't want to work and don't care about learning. This is not within my mother's capibilities to teach. Yes she can do her best to motivate students, but it ultimately is a decision the student has to make within themselve as to whether or not they're going to do the work necessary to succeed.