Assignment 1

            As a student, I have felt the same way Derek and his classmates felt about school. I would always say, “Why do I need this class if I am never going to use it in life?” I felt the same way about the state tests that we were required to take. I usually freak out whenever I take a tests and I feel I do not do as well as I would like because of that. So I felt that it was unfair that those tests determined so much. However, I can see why they are required and I understand that they do have some benefits.

            When I think about myself as a teacher, I do not see myself as a teacher who just teaches students how to pass a test. I feel like that is what many schools are focusing on, such as the Florida school. I think that is the worst possible way to run a school and teach kids. I know that my teachers helped us pass those tests, but they did while keeping us interested and being personal. Teaching about the test was just in the background. I believe they were effective. At my high school, there were better ACT scores each year. I think that when school focus more on actually teaching and impacting kids, passing those test will come automatically.