Autism, Cognitive Disability, Learning Disorders

A Way That Makes Sense In The Real World

Special Education, Testing, Teaching , Diagnoses

This past week I read an article about a special education teacher that ended up quitting due to the the ridiculous and inappropriate testing that was being required of her students. As I read through the story, and the subsequent comments on the story, I found myself shaking my head in agreement. I completely understand what this teacher is saying. 

Over the last twenty-six years I have taught in several different school systems, in many different types of special education settings, with students diagnosed with a myriad number of disabilities. I am not new to special education, nor am I blind to how the system works. I have dedicated most of my life to education. Education is important to me. Learning is important to me. Helping students meet their full potential, whatever that may be for that child, is important to me. 

I am very child focused, especially when it comes to my field of special education. A child is a child first....the fact that they have a disability or diagnosis always comes second. A child may have a diagnosis, but that diagnosis is only part of who they are, it is not all of who they are. A disability does not define a person, or at least it should not. Neither should a test define a person. That is not it's job. I believe that is why this particular story has lingered with me...and continues to bother me as much as it does. 

Students are forced to take standardized tests according to their ages/grade levels, and not by their cognitive ability or instructional level, because of this, most of these children are set up for failure. Now, with all the near weekly, Common Core testing (separate from the standardized testing in the Spring) these children are left feeling dumb and incapable. Think about that for a minute. How would you feel if you struggled with reading, due to a learning disability, and you were making great strides in your ability to read and understand content, but your fluency was still slow......but, your progress was never enough to "ace" the tests. It would be a constant reminder of "I'm not enough." or "I'm too stupid to do this."  These sorts of things make my heart break, and not just because I have a big heart for this population of kiddos. My heart breaks because, in my opinion, it doesn't have to be this way. 

Should we have high expectations and standards for our children with special needs? Yes, absolutely. I believe we should assist each student in striving to meet their potential. The thing is, students aren't and have never been cookie cutters. What might spur one student on to better things, might cause another child to feel helpless and alone. The result of too much of the testing (across the board) is to show how the "average" child has done. What is the standard? What is the norm? Tests compare students to each other, to others across the country....who is average? Who is below average? Who is exceptionally bright? Now, testing is even used against teachers. Everything rides on the tests. Teachers are being evaluated not by their students daily and weekly achievements,  but, instead by how well their students take the tests. I just think there has to be a better way. A more relevant way. A more effective way. A way that makes sense in the real world.