GDG- Article - Is History History?

[128thpa at comcast.net]

As a 7th and 8th grade social studies teacher I have to state what I see as one of the major problems (there are several, but this one I can definitely attest to).  Standardized testing.  Now I want to start off saying, I have absolutely NOTHING against students working to improve their math, verbal and reading skills.  However, when students don't do well, all other classes are stopped and students get huge doses of math and verbal practice. And this happens across the board, not just for students who are having the problems.  So students who do well in math, and perhaps not so well in the verbal skills have to take the extra math classes along with everyone else and vice versa and the same for those student who did well in both parts.  

So what this presents to the students is several things:  1) the other subjects are not that important; 2) they get bored in class with reviewing subjects they are already good at; and 3) school is totally boring because you can't hit them with 3 classes of math in one day and think they are going to be interested by the end of the day, even if they aren't doing that well in it.

The Pennsylvania State Legislature has been considering having all high school students pass standardized tests in a variety of subjects - to include history - as a requirement for graduation.  Many school districts have been against this and so am I.  A standardized test will just have all teachers teaching to the test.  All students will be required to do is memorized facts with no understanding of the events.  I would rather have the students be required to work on a community service project (Ex: volunteer at a historical site) or work on a local history report (lots of variations here) than take a standardized test.  

I know you can get students to be interested in history.  They may not all love it - but they aren't bored with it either.  If each teacher took it as a challenge to have their students at least respect the subject they are teaching - our educational system would be much better.  However, I must add that parental support is also essential in getting a child to want to learn; but more times than one would think, that support is not there.  

BTW Bob, my son also graduated from GWU, but fortunately, he was going there because he was interested in politics, and actually had been to the White House prior to attending GWU.  But he also could tell you where all the good beer joints were!  

Paula

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Robert Lawrence" <lawrence at rwlcpa.com> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> I recall my first visit time I visited my daughter when she was a 
> freshman at GWU. We took a short walk from her dorm and ended up in 
> front of the White House she said"I wondered where that was at. She did, 
> however , know ever knock and cranny of Georgetown. 
> 
>