Sydney Smoot for President 2044!
Sydney Smoot, an incredibly articulate and brave fourth grader from Brooksville, Florida, heroically stood before the Hernando County School Board to speak out against standardized testing and brought the house down.
The Florida Standards Assessment Test, or FSA, is a hot-button topic in Florida, with many students, parents, and teachers viewing the test as an unfair indicator of academic success.
youtube.com / Via youtube.com
Sydney, a 9-year-old powerhouse, spoke eloquently about her concerns over the FSA:
"I consider myself a well-educated young lady. However, with FSA tests, my five years of school - all on honor roll - do not matter. This test looks at me as a number. One test defines me either a failure or a success through a numbered rubric... It doesn't take an account of all my knowledge and abilities, just a small percentage."
HITV / Via youtube.com
Chief among Sydney's concerns is a form that students are made to sign, stating that they can't even discuss the test with their parents.
"I am not comfortable signing something like this. I have the right to talk to my parents about any and everything related to school and my education."
HITV / Via youtube.com
Sydney is not opposed to taking tests, she just wants it to be fair.
"Why are we taking most of the year stressing and prepping for ONE TEST at the end of the year, when we should be taking tests throughout the year that really measure our abilities... The stress and pressure this testing puts on me and I'm sure most students, is not healthy."
HITV / Via youtube.com
No comments:
Post a Comment