Proficiencies and Public Schools

This is the week for Indiana’s proficiencies. They make students and teachers tired. I have heard some people say that making kids pass the GQE (Graduation Qualifying Exam) to graduate is stupid, that as long as they come to school and do their work, they should be able to get a diploma. I can see their point, but I don’t agree. I think there has to be a standard, and we have to expect our children to rise and meet it.

But before I go off on my educational soapbox, just let me say what I saw in the room where my students tested this morning. What I saw was this:

I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. — Jeremiah 29:11

It was on the bulletin board. Just another poster. But it made me think that the kids in my room got an extra blessing, at least on this first testing day. And it made me glad that I work where I do.

The kids I serve are notoriously bad readers, but I hope they saw those words, too.