Man's Inhumanity to Man (and Children)

We have seen it throughout history... Man's Inhumanity to Man (and Children)

In a recent manifestation of this disease we have the Florida legislature creating laws that punish people and communities.  It is done simply for greed of corporations and hedge fund managers of wealth investors.

This is how it works... Test makers, are handsomely rewarded for using our students as child labor! Corporations sell tests our Broward students are forced to take at school, whether they like it or not. Each test is bought and paid for by our taxes under the guise that this will determine the worth of a student... a teacher... a school... a community.  "Student growth" they call it....  "The tests will determine 'student growth'."  Actually. the tests determine investment growth and profits measured in sales. That is the real reason why we are being sold the "idea" that standardized tests are so desperately needed... suddenly more than real teaching and learning.... Have you noticed?  Think about it!

Child Labor?  Hmmmmm.  Even if these children get sick, or scared or anxious... and they do... they must take the test!  Even if teachers disagree with the testing mania that has befallen Broward... they must give the test.  It's state law, you see.

Lobbyists are very generous with politicians who buy the "student growth" propaganda and sell it to their communities.  Many campaigns are funded this way!  The propaganda is easy to sell.  Everyone will agree that it is important to determine "student growth."  Right?

Once the law is in place... Cha Ching... the money train begins.

Students... millions of students... representing billions of dollars... pile into classrooms and labor over these tests, free of charge, so that the corporations, sometimes foreign entities, can profit.  Neither they, nor their family is given a kick back for laboring over the test, which often takes an inhumane amount of time, concentration and restrictions stunningly unnatural to a child.

No kick backs are given to the teachers or support staff who labor extra hours to learn how to administer the test and are then also forced to perform tasks stunningly unnatural to teachers. These tasks include spending long hours watching usually inquisitive and active children sit still, unable to communicate or even ask questions. The kick backs are saved for the politicians who push the tests on the children in the name of evaluating their worth as learners.... that ever important, "student growth."

Let's forget that the tests are often poorly written, developmentally inappropriate, not aligned with the coursework, useless to teachers' and students' daily practice, and otherwise flawed and inaccurate. Let's forget all that and assume they are valid.  They are still a for profit business forced on the backs of our young people

Mans Inhumanity to Man.  Wake up Florida and follow the money train.  Choo Choo!

Terry Preuss, NBCT
Career Public Educator
SBBC Advisory Council
BTU Executive Board Member
Author, Voices in the Hall.