Currently in the state of Iowa, students are required to take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) yearly to determine what growth plans or adjustments are required for teachers and students so that all students are achieving near the same level on a statewide level.

Growing up in Iowa, and growing up with the ITBS yearly, I often dreaded the tests, mostly because they were timed so rigidly and absolutely no fun. Curious and quick to learn as an individual, I struggled with scores my whole childhood, when it came to timing and testing and grading. The intimidation of the timers would frighten me into a positions of intense nervousness while test taking. I could either rush to finish and get a lot wrong or take my time, but there was no option. I was one of so many different children that struggle with their individuality to meet these demands under strict or threatening conditions (like a whole school day devoted to ITBS assessments). An article from MSNBC.com titled, ‘Iowa Test on Way Out of Classroom?’ from February 7^th, 2012, journalist James Eng states, “The state that was the birthplace for the set of standardized tests that public school students took for decades is considering doing away with the Iowa Test in favor of new, still-under-development tests that proponents say will more accurately measure a student’s progress.” After researching, I was shocked and humbled to find that currently different teachers and organizations have been working to adjust these test methods for the state of Iowa. In the same article James Eng develops, “Jason Glass, the Iowa Department of Education Director, is leading the push to replace the Iowa tests with assessments being developed by a consortium of 29 states called Smarter Balance.” The article continues with a statement, “I think in the future of those new assessments will give everyone more comparative leverage about how their students are doing’, Glass told the state Senate Education Committee last month.” So currently as we discuss this issue of standardized testing as a classroom, presently, my home state was at work striving to change the system of assessments. That is so empowering as a native of Iowa; growing up in a place of all seasons, growth, purity, and innocence, it is absolutely thrilling that my native state, my nest, progressive at demanding changes with standardized tests.

Standardized testing has always bothered me, particularly because the material is too dry and objective, and the tests do not require imagination or creativity. Arts and Creativity are part of humanity, and we should insist on taking into account intelligence from the areas; such as music, poetry, literature, woodworking, architecture, pottery, and many other arts. Without accounting for these skills it seems unfair and unbalance for both children and communities. Communities can not work in harmony without artisanship. We need all types of minds to make the world function. To me, this is one of the biggest failures of standardized tests, that is leaving out the arts and limiting test types.

Finally, I wonder, how do these standardized tests prepare children and teenagers for life experience that will come with adulthood? There are no lessons on tax preparing, no exams on balancing budgets, no readings on planning for mortgages and families, mostly no lessons on the vitals it requires to succeed in life as an adults. Common sense, imagination, perseverance, patience, and creativity, all need to have part in our education systems in order to help children of the future become functioning adults with various skills. It takes so much more than a test to wage the success or failure for any areas of intelligences, and we as the future of educators cannot ignore the calling.

　

Reference:

Armstrong, D., Henson, K, & Savage, T. (2009). Teaching today: An introduction to education. (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

　
　

Des Moines Community School District

After Researching the Des Moines Community School District, I found several services available to assist students and parents on the long road from kindergarten to graduation from 12^th grade in high school.

The first service I came across was called the International Baccalaureate, which in other words means high quality international education to promote a better world. This project began in Des Moines Public Schools in 2008, and is designed to educate children with intercultural comprehension to promote better understanding for alternative cultures. This program not only words on understanding but aims to teach respect for cultures all over the world. In a nation that has become multicultural, this program seems to help young children and adults to become implemented with other belief systems, and to recognize them as equal to their own. Growing up in a high school that was full of diversity, this program would have been very effective in implementing a range of acceptance for all religions, regions, and cultures. Children and young adults need this help in trying to identify with other traditions and way of living, mostly because that is the world we all live in. America was created to accept all types of ethnicities, and it only makes sense that our students have programs available to assist in these understandings. Schools should have responsibility in educating individuals on culture, but since it is not part of curriculums, programs such as these can be a guidance in helping students to accept and respect all piers, aside from upbringings or cultural differences.

The next program that I came across was called Destination Graduation. Destination Graduation is organized to help students to stay on focus and work towards and complete a goal, in this case to graduate. In a time of hormone changes and personality development, this program would be a great help to keep students directed to some sort of focused aspiration. It is very intimidating as a students growing up, with all the expectations out there, students often times can get very confused and disturbed. A program like Destination Graduation can work with students to help them understand the importance of reaching for and obtaining certain goals. Without advisors and mentors to lean on, growing up can be a tumultuous and arduous time period. As adults, it is easy to forget the challenges that come with adolescence, the expectations, the competitions, and the trials. Parents are often too busy to give children the extra bit of attention, and with a program like this one, the responsibility is passed off to a groups such as this one. This program can not only help students gain confidences, but help them to understand why the goal of graduating is important, and teach methods to help them along the way. There are so many challenges out there, and as an adolescent it can be completely overwhelming. Destination Graduation lends a hand to young adults to understand the importance of education in their lives, and the reasons for setting goals towards graduation.

The next program that I found important was the Metro Kids Care. This service is available to all elementary students, and help fill in the before and after school hours with activities and overall care. In a world where parents are required to work long days, often as early as the crack of dawn, to as late as dusk. And in the meantime, young children have those hours before and after school that often need to be occupied with activities to keep children on focus and on task. The fees for this program and designed to be flexible with different incomes. With all the bad influences on television, and dangers on the streets, a program like this can take the stress away from parents sending their children to school. To know that there is a ‘baby-sitter’ designed for children from kindergarten to 5^th grade, allotted for before school hours and after, will save many parents a lot of money and anxiety. The programs are designed with activities and snacks that are healthy and productive, keeping young minds safe from distracting influences. When I was a child, I was lucky enough to have grandparents that lived a few blocks from my elementary school, but to think of all the children who do not have these types of conveniences, a program like this would be amazing and convenient.

The next program I came across was the 21^st Century Community Learning Center. “Students in 21^st Century Community Learning Center programs receive tailored, individualized support through coordination and communication between their daytime teachers and their after-school teachers. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math are offered, necessary for students to gain 21^st century workforce skills,”(DSM Public Schools Website). A program like this would help students gain confidence in skills that are developing and to understand where these skills can assist them in the future workforce. In school, they never really explained to us the importance of classes in preparing us for adulthood. Tasks often seem mundane and boring, but if students are given the extra edge in understanding where these skills will help them in the future they are more likely to pay attention, learn productiveness, and gain the necessary and vital information that will give them a smoother transition into adulthood. With classes that are over filled, and parents over scheduled, a program like this can help seal the loose ends, and give students the upper hand in developing skills that are important for the future. In school, it is easy to get distracting, and to not know the meaning behind certain lessons, but with a program like this students can really comprehend the elements of education and take it to the next level, which is choosing career paths. They say knowledge is power, but knowing where to apply knowledge, seems more important in modern times.

Finally, an important program available is the National Counseling Designation.. “This program supports school counselors’ efforts to help students focus on academic, personal, social, and career development so they not only achieve success in school but are prepared to lead fulfilling lives as responsible members of society,”(DSM Public School Website). To me, counseling was something available through school counselor during school hours, but a program like this is designed for alternative hours, where they can give students more attention. Again, being an adolescent is full of confusing challenging and can be overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. A program like this can also help students to keep a focus on certain goal, and to understand the goals they are aiming towards and the reason it is important to obtain these goals. Counselors also offer consultations to individuals with personal and family issues. This gives students an outlet to vent frustrations away from the classroom setting, and to give trust to adults in assisting them through these tough challenges. With greater empathy and increase awareness of the importance of goals, this program would serve many young adults in their long path into adulthood.

A lot has changed in the world since I graduated high school in Des Moines in 1998, and in many ways it seems more demanding. With the increase academic competitions and time frames towards graduating, the programs that I have discussed not only help students understand their purposes and goals, but help them to make plans to continue to prosper through adulthood. Adolescence is confusing and frightening, and schools alone can only facilitate a certain amount of elements for each students, but with different program options, it opens up opportunities for all types of students and give these chances at times that are outside of basic school time hours.

　

　

The Des Moines Public Schools Website:


www.dmschools.org