This chapter made me think of the of the different attitudes teachers have toward testing. Some feel that because of the high stakes of testing they should just accept it and teach toward the test. Some teachers complain that they can't be creative because testing and just go with the flow. Then there are teachers who accept that there will always be some sort of measurement tool but that will not deter from their passion which is teaching. Those teachers feel that testing has not changed the face of education. Maybe we should think about why we became teachers in the first place. It is not my passion to help all the students pass the state test. It is not my passion to help my school make AYP. It is not my passion help my school make a grade of "A". My passion is to inspire my students to explore all the possibilities to become the person they want to be. It is my passion to inspire passion. Nothing moves me more than to see the light in a child's eyes when they learn, acquire new skills and take those skills to the next level.
When I read about letting go of things that are holding you back it took a more personal note. My kids and I are amusement park fanatics but I always sat on the sidelines as they rode all the rollercoasters. I spent many years holding their stuff while they enjoyed the thrill of the G-force. One day my daughter and I went to Universal with a group. She wanted to ride the Hulk but she didn't want to ride alone. She begged me to go with her and I adamantly refused. After about 20 mins of her pleading I closed my eyes and said okay. I sat locked in the chair basically freaking out and praying for it to be over. All of a sudden I was shot 60 miles an hour out into the wide blue yonder. When I got off the ride I said "Man what a rush". What was I afraid of? You never know what will happen when you learn to let go and participate wholly in your own life. That was 8 years ago and I have got lot of riding to make up.
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