And what is it that I’m tired of: all this talk about standardized testing and schools.

I just finished reading this article on CNN.com which was discussing how students are making better grades, but they can’t get past the tests. And since the tests are what matter, as opposed to what students actually KNOW…then, I suppose that is a problem.

I’m about to enter into the workforce with all this talk about testing, standards, No Child Left Behind, etc. While I honestly believe that the testing can be used in a positive way, I don’t feel like it is right now. Currently, teachers are under pressure to make sure that their kids can get past the tests. Does that mean they might be slacking off in other areas? Perhaps. And maybe that can explain the increase in grades.

At any rate, I’d like to see more emphasis placed on the State Standards for Education. Perhaps by providing clearer standards for what students should know and be able to do, we’ll have students who can make good grades AND pass the tests. Additionally, it helps teachers have a clearer idea of what they should be teaching. While I’m all for having freedom to explore subjects on my own in the classroom, I would appreciate a clear set of guidelines and/or standards at least for the basics.

I’m scared that this testing crap is going to push the state of public education to an even lower point than it is at now. If people thought there was an education crisis in the 1950s and 1960s, just wait and see what will happen if we continue at this rate. It’s time for some change.

Would you take turn chewing the same piece of gum with your coworkers, classmates, or even your family members? Probably not. According to this article in the Washington Post, students at a Montgomery County high school were asked to take turns chewing the same piece of gum as a simulation of how sexually transmitted diseases were spread.

An excerpt:

To demonstrate how sexually transmitted diseases are spread, a visiting speaker invited students to share gum in health classes at four county high schools in December and last month. School officials said a total of about 100 students participated in the lessons, although some declined to chew the gum…

“It was fine for me, because my best friend and me did it first,” said Julia Bellefleur, 15, a Damascus High School sophomore who participated in the exercise. “But it was kind of gross for everyone else. I was just glad I did it first.”

So it seems to be a somewhat meaningful exercise. And it helps to get the point across. But is the exercise going too far to teach kids a lesson?