“Perhaps you only failed in your definition of success.”

~ Rabbi David Aaron

If our definition of success is higher test scores, we are making little progress. If our definition of success includes breadth of learning and knowledge, we are regressing. My district’s high school has eliminated almost all electives in favor of courses expected to raise test scores. Even French is on the way out. Students will still have the Spanish option since foreign language study is expected on many college applications. Woodworking has gone, though, as has home ec. Lessons that don’t contribute to scores are vanishing, too. Pity any experts on the First World War. They may only have a few days at most to share this “useless” knowledge.

Eduhonesty: What does chasing scores have in common with chasing tornados? Both leave a blighted landscape behind.