There is a lot of hype during testing season, especially in a K-12 building when ALL of the state tests have to be considered. Forward, NAEP, Aspire, ACT, etc. All of these things are rolling around in my brain right now! Worrying about accommodations for each test, how to pack the boxes for some, which students are sick or injured, and on and on... Do they not understand that I was dealing with major mental health/suicidal things with students just last night? And now testing? It makes me stumble back and wonder what is really important here?
Our school districts are judged based on test results, and funding can potentially be at stake. This is important, yes. But is all of this testing and test prep and stress really that important? I have been writing about my educational philosophy lately and when I write the common theme is ALWAYS about relationships. Relationships are the building blocks of helping students develop their futures. Relationships are key to creating collective efficacy among teachers and helping them to realize that their own perceptions of student achievement have more to do than almost anything they do throughout the day.
This is why I love being a counselor. I really feel like I get to focus on relationships .... when the job doesn't call for testing that is. And off to the testing grind.
