The mistakes we make

Dear Education Reformers:

    Your efforts towards more accountability is duly noted, but it takes a community to raise a child. A look at the top public educational systems is enough to shed light on the structural issues within American public schools, where over crowded classrooms eliminate needed individual attention, and subjects are taught in preparation for yearly high stake test. The growth and popularity of standardized  testing baffles me especially with the wealth of research that shows how ineffective and detrimental they are.  When will we truly try to foster a culture around holistic learning independent of financial and political motives. Race To The Top you thoroughly  ignore and in fact take advantage of the impact that poverty plays on the achievement gap. Charter schools only marginally perform better than public schools and lets not get into the controversial throwing poor test results out cough cough “Harlem school zone”. I mean really is it too much to ask for that every child be allowed to learn and grow at his or her own pace, in a democratic community.