I did not see the special on Nightline but like Mocha
I would like to repond. I am a product of specialized testing and I remember how competitive the classroom became when test time rolled around. It was all about getting that 12.7 grade level in reading and math. As a 8, 9 or 10 year old that is alot. Preparation was extremely intense I remember many teachers looking down on that student(s) who wasn't performing as well. They essentially were ignored by the teachers, the feeling being that they were never going to get it.
I also remember the one year that I didn't get a 12.7(this was 6th grade) I got so sick becaise it seemed that everyone else around me did better that year. I think I cried for a long time. What people fail to understand is that we are products of our environment. There are students who are not exposed to anything different than their 4 walls. They aren't encouraged to excel but to just get by. Conditions in the inner cities have gotten progressively worse. More often than not, school age children are worried more about getting home without gettng shot than taking a test. They are also influenced by what they see on TV and on the corners. If they are constantly inundated with the Puffies of this world flossing and talking about benjamins and baguettes, their focus will inevitably shift.
With all of that who has time to worry about analogies and y=mx+b.
I also think that the educational system has failed us. Teachers aren't getting paid their worth so they aren't going to really put effort into helping their students learn. I think that many people that go into teaching do it as a stepping stone because it will help pay for loans or they just couldn't find something in their fields. I don't hear about people my age(28) wanting to go into teaching because they want to REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Kreator, you asked how we can make a difference, I think you start slowly. Mentoring is always a good way to help. Be consistent. Don't just do it selfishly. Sometimes your mentoring can occur during your daily travels. If you see a younger person not doing what he/she is supposed to be doing, call him on it. I have done it on many occasions. I was firm but at the same time I didn't talk to that person in a derogatory manner. Passivity is what has gotten us into this predicament. We are responsible for each other.
I honestly don't know how to deal with standardized testing. It's the results of those scores that determines what schools get enough funding for the next year. It all about the GREEN. It seems that more schools are requiring it. If we can change how the teachers prepare these kids we may win part of the battle.