Ah, the joys of parenting! Recently, I found myself navigating the turbulent waters of standardized testing—one of those topics that can really stir the pot. In my neighborhood, nearly 15 percent of parents decided to opt their kiddos out of these assessments, leading to a lively debate about whether standardized testing truly measures student abilities or teacher effectiveness. Ultimately, we opted for our son to skip the tests.
Despite the calmer vibes now, questions still linger about our decision. Take, for instance, Jenna Thompson, a dedicated sixth-grade teacher from Connecticut. While she genuinely believes every student should take these tests, it’s puzzling that someone with 18 years of teaching experience and a master’s degree in education misinterprets the opt-out movement’s motivations. Jenna seems to think that parents are simply shielding their kids from stress or unpleasant experiences. That’s not the case at all.
I didn’t request an exemption because my son was anxious about the test or because he doesn’t enjoy them—believe me, he’s not a fan of chores either, but we still make him do them. Jenna expresses concern that opting out sends the wrong message, suggesting that we’re teaching kids to avoid challenges. But she’s missing the bigger picture.
Many of us simply don’t believe that standardized tests accurately reflect a student’s strengths or a teacher’s effectiveness. In New York, for instance, a group of 557 principals voiced their concerns about the vagueness of the test questions, highlighting a disconnect between tests and real learning.
As someone who has always been a decent test-taker, I understand the struggle. When preparing for college in the U.S., I tackled the SATs without prior experience, using a test prep book to learn the ins and outs of multiple-choice strategies. I aced the test and got into my desired college, but I recognized that the tests my son faced wouldn’t serve him in the same way.
By opting out, I aimed to send a message to the Department of Education. I knew we weren’t alone in this decision; having a supportive community made it feel even more impactful. If it was just my son opting out, I might have reconsidered, as being the only one could lead to him feeling isolated.
While his peers tackled the tests, my son and the other kids who opted out were sent to the cafeteria to read quietly. Sure, he was bored, and while he wanted to hang out with friends, we chose to stand firm in our decision. We aimed to teach him about principles and standing up for what you believe in—even if it’s uncomfortable.
He has ample opportunities to learn about perseverance and hard work in other areas of life, and this experience was just another chance to reinforce those lessons. When he approached us about opting out, he presented solid arguments we were already aware of. We were proud of his understanding and supported his choice, even if it meant sitting on those uncomfortable cafeteria benches.
So that’s why we opted out. We wanted to instill the idea of standing up for values rather than shying away from challenges. I hope this lesson sticks with him as he grows.
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Summary
In choosing to opt my son out of standardized testing, we aimed to teach him about standing up for principles rather than avoiding challenges. This decision stemmed from our belief that these tests do not accurately reflect student capabilities or teacher effectiveness. It was a lesson in integrity and conviction that we hope will resonate throughout his life.