Hey, teachers, see what a 16 year old wrote to the NYT...

Educators, take a close look at this article in the NYT:

                                   Those Standardized Tests

To the Editor:

When I read “Rallying Cry in Anti-Test Movement: ‘Opt Out’ ” (front page, May 21), I found myself nodding my head repeatedly. As a high school student, I have seen firsthand that standardized tests don’t test true understanding.

Filling in bubbles does not test critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making and other skills necessary for students to develop their minds. Rather, it only tests if students know how to solve a particular style of problems that may or may not translate into real-world skills.

Numbers and statistics cannot hope to measure or define something as complex as a human being. By focusing on increasing test scores, educators are missing the point.

Learning is a natural process fueled by curiosity and discovery, not by the threat of failing or losing district funding. After all, what inspired great minds like Newton, Galileo and Einstein? Educators need to focus on instilling curiosity in students and igniting a spark that makes students want to learn. When we grow up and look for a job, what will matter more — our dedication to learning or how many bubbles we filled in correctly?

NIKHIL JAIN, 15

Middlesex County Academy for Science, Math and Engineering Technologies, 10th grade

Edison, N.J.

Good, good, good for you, Nikhil.
I SO hope you become a teacher............you'll be dead good at it!!