RIP School Survival Forums
August 2001 - June 2017
The School Survival Forums are permanently retired. If you need help with quitting school, unsupportive parents or anything else, there is a list of resources on the Help Page.
If you want to write about your experiences in school, you can write on our blog.
To everyone who joined these forums at some point, and got discouraged by the negativity and left after a while (or even got literally scared off): I'm sorry.
I wasn't good enough at encouraging people to be kinder, and removing people who refuse to be kind. Encouraging people is hard, and removing people creates conflict, and I hate conflict... so that's why I wasn't better at it.
I was a very, very sensitive teen. The atmosphere of this forum as it is now, if it had existed in 1996, would probably have upset me far more than it would have helped.
I can handle quite a lot of negativity and even abuse now, but that isn't the point. I want to help people. I want to help the people who need it the most, and I want to help people like the 1996 version of me.
I'm still figuring out the best way to do that, but as it is now, these forums are doing more harm than good, and I can't keep running them.
Thank you to the few people who have tried to understand my point of view so far. I really, really appreciate you guys. You are beautiful people.
Everyone else: If after everything I've said so far, you still don't understand my motivations, I think it's unlikely that you will. We're just too different. Maybe someday in the future it might make sense, but until then, there's no point in arguing about it. I don't have the time or the energy for arguing anymore. I will focus my time and energy on people who support me, and those who need help.
-SoulRiser
The forums are mostly read-only and are in a maintenance/testing phase, before being permanently archived. Please use this time to get the contact details of people you'd like to keep in touch with.
My contact details are here.
Please do not make a mirror copy of the forums in their current state - things will still change, and some people have requested to be able to edit or delete some of their personal info.
Thread Rating:
- 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
|
Author |
Message |
SoulRiser
Site Founder
Posts: 18,240
Joined: Aug 2001
Thanks: 2669
Given 1978 thank(s) in 1208 post(s)
|
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
Quote:Nikhyl Goyal: Considering standardized testing has increased to historic levels causing a lot of teaching to the test, billions of dollars spent, and killing creativity, how would you as president change this trend?
Mitt Romney: I don't have a better model than a testing system.
-------
And there ya have it.
Nikhil Goyal, the teenage author of One Size Does Not Fit All, presented Mitt Romney with a hard-hitting question during NBC’s Education Nation exposing the presidential hopeful’s extreme ignorance when it comes to education policy.
Romney made a patronizing attempt at schooling the younger and wiser student but as he uttered each word of his response his ignorance on the topic became uncomfortably clear.
Romney explained it this way...
Lie
First he said...
“You will find throughout your life there are tests.”
Really? For most Americans, tests (including the one for driving) occur while we are in school. Many of us have not had another test after high school. Yes, some people choose to take a one-time certification test, but...
1) They are extremely rare in “life.”
2) They are taken by choice, not forced upon us.
Ignorance
Then he said...
“I don’t know a way to evaluate progress without tests.” Yikes!!!! So Romney’s ignorance on more effective measures of assessment should guide our nation????
I wished the audience had chanted:
“Ask the kid!!! Ask the kid!!!!.”
Hell, Mitt had an expert right in front of him and it didn’t occur to him to ask for advice. But if asking the kid or reading his book is too much for Mitt, he could just think about how we evaluate progress in life? Spoiler alert: It almost never involves tests!!!!
Lie and Ignorance
And after that he said...
“There is no other way that we’ve found out to determine if a student is succeeding or not and no other way to find out if the teacher is succeeding or not.”
Really? Is he telling the teen (who’s much more knowledgable than him on the topic) that this is it? This is the only way? Of course, it’s a lie, but is Romney too stupid to know he is lying or is he lying and just thinking the rest of us are too stupid to figure it out?
Lie
Then he explained that...
“When I was governor of Massachusetts I took the graduation exam which assesses basic math and everyone should know basic math.”
As he explained the tests he goes on to describe geometry, algebra, calculus as BASIC math! Really? Many of us Americans get through life mighty fine without those fancy basic maths known as geometry, algebra, or calculus. It's basic for those who wants to follow pursuits that require these subjects, but this is not basic and it is not necessary for success in life for their entire population.
Ignorance
Romney explains that he passed the graduation test with an, “If I can do it, anyone can” grin.
Within that grin is held complete ignorance of the realities that many of our students have. No, they don’t have tutors. No, they may not speak English. Yes, they may have learning disabilities. No, they may not have basic health care. Yes, they may not have parents. And...No, they may not have spent their lives in elite private schools or being homeschooled!
Avoidance / Ignorance
Romney completely ignored the part of Nikhil’s question about the billions of dollars being allocated toward testing. Feh. Billion, shmillion! Let’s move on.
Teacher Bashing Finale
Romney wanted to drive his point home to the questioning teen about his fear behind no having tests. You know what that was????
We can’t trust dem teacher folk.
He said this:
“I was afraid before the tests that teachers would go off on a different tangent than the basic math, english, and science that our kids need to succeed.”
We need these tests or those teachers are gonna go off teaching some crazy irrelevant crap.
But, wait! There’s more.
Romney concluded with his promise to the people. There’s more where this came from!
He explained, that we won’t stop here! “I’ve added science so people will get tested in biology and geology and so forth.”
And, he concluded...
“Let’s make our testing more effective and expand it ways that haven’t even been thought of!”
Wink Wink to the mega-billion dollar testing industry that more is headed their way.
The sentence
Then he admitted...
“I don’t have a better model than to say we’re going to evaluate our kids through some kind of a testing system.”
So there ya have it folks. Parents, your kids are gonna get tested and test prepped to death. The presidential hopeful doesn’t have a better model and gosh dang it, and reading Nikhil’s book or those blogs educator’s write just ain’t on his agenda.
Source and video here:
http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.co...-high.html
"If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them." - Dalai Lama
Help & Support - Get help with leaving school, unsupportive parents, and more.
Click here if school makes you depressed or suicidal
Support School Survival on Patreon or Donate Bitcoin Here: 1Q5WCcxWjayniaL92b8GfXBiGdfjmnUNa2
"Believe those who are seeking the truth. Doubt those who find it." - André Paul Guillaume Gide
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein
"I'm pretty sure there's a lot of beauty that can only be found in the mind of a lunatic." - TheCancer
EIPD - Emotionally Incompetent Parent Disorder
Push Button for Collection of Useful Links:
|
|
09-28-2012 06:29 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
Ky
Shadow
Posts: 5,201
Joined: Aug 2012
Thanks: 1794
Given 1469 thank(s) in 972 post(s)
|
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
Romney says he doesn't know, so he doesn't know.
Public Service Announcement: First world problems are still problems.
|
|
09-28-2012 07:54 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
AtheistLGBTQAnarchist
Peace Loving Blood Lover
Posts: 713
Joined: Sep 2012
Thanks: 15
Given 47 thank(s) in 36 post(s)
|
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
I find it funny how he can say all should know basic stuff when as a person RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT he can barely say anything about one of the main topics of youth in the sorry modern world we have today,school.I'm starting to doubt he has ANY education,because I mean come on school has been out since the 1930's so even a 80 year old should know something about it!
Congratulations humanity,because you refuse to let go of the old and evolve you actually make people believe in 2012. Not only that, but you're the only species on Earth that were able to make it possible, now we get to sit until we die because we couldn't get to Mars. We have failed as a society and don't deserve our gifts to survive for this long. Maybe this is why dinosaurs are extinct, we sure aren't any better than the dirt you say we're created from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...DvwSOFto#!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
"He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."
-Benjamin Franklin
|
|
09-28-2012 08:22 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
Ky
Shadow
Posts: 5,201
Joined: Aug 2012
Thanks: 1794
Given 1469 thank(s) in 972 post(s)
|
RE: Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
(09-28-2012 08:22 AM)YoungestAnarchist Wrote: I find it funny how he can say all should know basic stuff when as a person RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT he can barely say anything about one of the main topics of youth in the sorry modern world we have today,school.I'm starting to doubt he has ANY education,because I mean come on school has been out since the 1930's so even a 80 year old should know something about it!
Schooling isn't education. Everyone goes through schooling - most people find learning optional.
I don't think there's a solitary politician that actually loves learning; once you're intelligent, you figure out that running for an office is one of the most menial things you could possibly do.
Public Service Announcement: First world problems are still problems.
|
|
09-28-2012 08:25 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
AtheistLGBTQAnarchist
Peace Loving Blood Lover
Posts: 713
Joined: Sep 2012
Thanks: 15
Given 47 thank(s) in 36 post(s)
|
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
I didn't say it was education.I said he didn't have ANY education.
Congratulations humanity,because you refuse to let go of the old and evolve you actually make people believe in 2012. Not only that, but you're the only species on Earth that were able to make it possible, now we get to sit until we die because we couldn't get to Mars. We have failed as a society and don't deserve our gifts to survive for this long. Maybe this is why dinosaurs are extinct, we sure aren't any better than the dirt you say we're created from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...DvwSOFto#!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
"He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."
-Benjamin Franklin
|
|
09-28-2012 09:11 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
Ky
Shadow
Posts: 5,201
Joined: Aug 2012
Thanks: 1794
Given 1469 thank(s) in 972 post(s)
|
RE: Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
(09-28-2012 09:11 AM)YoungestAnarchist Wrote: I didn't say it was education.I said he didn't have ANY education.
Nor does anyone else in his field. If you're looking for a cheap excuse to knock Romney, look elsewhere.
Public Service Announcement: First world problems are still problems.
|
|
09-28-2012 11:41 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
AtheistLGBTQAnarchist
Peace Loving Blood Lover
Posts: 713
Joined: Sep 2012
Thanks: 15
Given 47 thank(s) in 36 post(s)
|
Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
You seem pro-romney because I was complaining about what he said about school.I said nothing about Obama being better than him ,but it looks like your trying to make me sound like I am.
Congratulations humanity,because you refuse to let go of the old and evolve you actually make people believe in 2012. Not only that, but you're the only species on Earth that were able to make it possible, now we get to sit until we die because we couldn't get to Mars. We have failed as a society and don't deserve our gifts to survive for this long. Maybe this is why dinosaurs are extinct, we sure aren't any better than the dirt you say we're created from. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla...DvwSOFto#!
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
"He who sacrifices freedom for security deserves neither."
-Benjamin Franklin
|
|
09-30-2012 12:06 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
Ky
Shadow
Posts: 5,201
Joined: Aug 2012
Thanks: 1794
Given 1469 thank(s) in 972 post(s)
|
RE: Romney Promises Teen He Won't Back Down from High Stakes Tests
(09-30-2012 12:06 AM)TheMentalLover Wrote: You seem pro-romney because I was complaining about what he said about school.I said nothing about Obama being better than him ,but it looks like your trying to make me sound like I am.
I didn't say anything about Obama. *derp*
If the general public in general is completely disillusioned as to how the public school system is supposed to work, why call one politician out on it? Now, if that politician were to throw around a little legislative weight to make schools worse, then we'd have a problem.
Public Service Announcement: First world problems are still problems.
|
|
09-30-2012 03:10 AM |
|
Thanks given by: | |
|
User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)