Less standardized tests > more standardized test

          I have a good friend from Finland and conversation is always interesting because no matter what somethings get lost in translation. There's a cool a mysterious way of talking about the differences of lifestyles and community, in fact I'm still freaking out about all their weird festivities and mayonnaise. Anyhow, one of the more fascinating and frustrating topics we sometimes get ourselves into is education. PUBLIC EDUCATION. The Finns are famous for and can go on about two things: Being extremely pale and having awesome education. The emphasis on the student and on personal development is upheld, homework and tests are like water in dessert, and the focus is on developing ideas and questions. Nothing like the tunnel vision we have in Texas, where we look for answers and little else.

          Public education. Something very important and inescapable in my life as I have spend pretty much forever in public school, attending college, and have a mother who works in an elementary school with autistic students. It's everywhere and every bit influentially powerful. Now that being said, I'm totally fed up with hearing how amazing and advanced other nations educational school systems are and dealing with how our own hot mess is funneling a majority of young people out who are masters of 'copy and paste' and information regurgitation. (Eww, I know, but that's what came to mind).

          So that's a big beef of mine, our hard core curriculum, lack of putting the children's best interest at hand, reliance on high stakes tests, and disregard for the big picture educationally. We need more well rounded people! There are better and more efficient ways to get many high quality students! So when I read this article in the Texas Tribune, it warmed my heart...just a little. This article is about the bill that was voted which eliminates a couple standardized test in primary and secondary school and makes some revisions possible. This will give a little breathing space for students as they take in subject material with out school boards breathing down their necks. Not perfect, but a nice move in the right direction.