Race and the Standardized Testing Wars

[wildeyed]

2. Low test scores are mostly a reflection

of the endemic poverty and racism we allow in this country. It is not the teachers, students or parents fault. It is OUR fault, as a culture, for allowing children to suffer in poverty the way we do and allowing the school system to resegregate. We know better. We just don't care.

With the MRI technology now available, it is very well documented what stress of poverty does to a developing brain. We can SEE it on the scans. And it correlates with ADD-like symptoms, a greater likelihood of mental illness and a loss of 10-20 IQ points. Some of that improves if the stressors are taken away, but not all. So basically, we are giving these kids a brain damage. And then blaming the teachers, pretending like greater accountability through standardized testing will really help Bandaid on a gushing wound, IMO.

Until we, as a country, step up and do something to fix the underlying problems, I don't have much hope.