A random thought
I was in the hot dog shop a few minutes ago(yes, that's right, hot dogs...it is saturday), and for the record, I no longer like hot dogs. I used to love the things, and its been about 9 months since I've had an honest to goodness hot dog, apparently I've lost my taste for them. I ate 2 and a half and threw the rest away.
Anyway, my dislike of hot dogs has nothing to do with this post. One of the hot dog girls was talking to one of the hot dog boys about the SAT tests. The boy was about a year younger and apparenlty hadn't gotten to that point yet. She made the statement, "They're bad, they're aweful. You have to be there at 7:45 for 5 hours of testing that determines the outcome of the rest of your life!"
Amazing the drama of teenagers. First off, I've been places at 7:45 that makes SAT testing sound like eating cupcakes and watching cartoons while playing with puppy dogs, but I guess it might be a bit daunting when you're 16. I thought back to my day of SAT testing. I wasn't riddled with anxiety, nor did I spend months preparing. I just kind of showed up, took the test and went home.
My real problem with her statement was the last part. I scored an 1190(that was before this new 2000pt system) on my SATs. No preparation, just showing up with a pencil. The previous sentence marks the 3rd time ever that I've said my SAT scores to anyone. Needless to say, they didn't determine the outcome of the rest of my life. Actually, the outcome of the rest of my life still hasn't been determined, and while I admit that the immediate prospects look rather bleak, that has more to do with my dark outlook on the state of the world and growing depression rather than an integer gathered through standardized testing over 9 years ago.
Why do we lie to our young children? Telling them things like SAT scores are the most important thing to have? Honestly, SAT scores are peanuts compared to an ability to handle whatever life throws at you and get back up ready to take some more. Employers don't give a crap about SAT scores. They want people who can learn on the fly, be versitile and self-manage. This isn't stressed enough I don't think.
Our entire educational system is designed around a structured system of standardized testing. But everything after education is a chaotic mess with little to no standardization. Job duties change daily, if not hourly. Entire project can be put on hold and you're entire focus has to shift to something else entirely in the blink of an eye. Meetings can change the entire goal of a project when on person mutters a sentence starting with "oh yeah, by the way, I forgot to tell you...". Moments like that require nothing more than the ability to restrain yourself from throwing one hell of a right hook. You just smile and say, "ok, we'll get it done", and you will, because its your job, even if you have to be there at 7:45 on a saturday for 5 hours.
Shouldn't we be teaching our children life skills instead of putting them in some cushy fill in the circles environment?
I don't know, maybe other people's jobs do imitate the standard fill in the circles paradigm. Maybe my job is different, I am after all supposed to be developing on the fringe, breaking new ground and solving problems on a daily basis. (yes, even programmers from insurance companies get to do cool shit with code). Maybe I'm wrong, maybe SAT scores do ruin or make other people's lives, and I'm exempted from the norm for some reason.
Bleh, just random thoughts on a depressing day. Luckily I get to go to a board game party next...not that I want to, but I do have some social commitments I suppose. Even a hermit must show himself once in a while.
Anyway, my dislike of hot dogs has nothing to do with this post. One of the hot dog girls was talking to one of the hot dog boys about the SAT tests. The boy was about a year younger and apparenlty hadn't gotten to that point yet. She made the statement, "They're bad, they're aweful. You have to be there at 7:45 for 5 hours of testing that determines the outcome of the rest of your life!"
Amazing the drama of teenagers. First off, I've been places at 7:45 that makes SAT testing sound like eating cupcakes and watching cartoons while playing with puppy dogs, but I guess it might be a bit daunting when you're 16. I thought back to my day of SAT testing. I wasn't riddled with anxiety, nor did I spend months preparing. I just kind of showed up, took the test and went home.
My real problem with her statement was the last part. I scored an 1190(that was before this new 2000pt system) on my SATs. No preparation, just showing up with a pencil. The previous sentence marks the 3rd time ever that I've said my SAT scores to anyone. Needless to say, they didn't determine the outcome of the rest of my life. Actually, the outcome of the rest of my life still hasn't been determined, and while I admit that the immediate prospects look rather bleak, that has more to do with my dark outlook on the state of the world and growing depression rather than an integer gathered through standardized testing over 9 years ago.
Why do we lie to our young children? Telling them things like SAT scores are the most important thing to have? Honestly, SAT scores are peanuts compared to an ability to handle whatever life throws at you and get back up ready to take some more. Employers don't give a crap about SAT scores. They want people who can learn on the fly, be versitile and self-manage. This isn't stressed enough I don't think.
Our entire educational system is designed around a structured system of standardized testing. But everything after education is a chaotic mess with little to no standardization. Job duties change daily, if not hourly. Entire project can be put on hold and you're entire focus has to shift to something else entirely in the blink of an eye. Meetings can change the entire goal of a project when on person mutters a sentence starting with "oh yeah, by the way, I forgot to tell you...". Moments like that require nothing more than the ability to restrain yourself from throwing one hell of a right hook. You just smile and say, "ok, we'll get it done", and you will, because its your job, even if you have to be there at 7:45 on a saturday for 5 hours.
Shouldn't we be teaching our children life skills instead of putting them in some cushy fill in the circles environment?
I don't know, maybe other people's jobs do imitate the standard fill in the circles paradigm. Maybe my job is different, I am after all supposed to be developing on the fringe, breaking new ground and solving problems on a daily basis. (yes, even programmers from insurance companies get to do cool shit with code). Maybe I'm wrong, maybe SAT scores do ruin or make other people's lives, and I'm exempted from the norm for some reason.
Bleh, just random thoughts on a depressing day. Luckily I get to go to a board game party next...not that I want to, but I do have some social commitments I suppose. Even a hermit must show himself once in a while.
posted by delinx32 @ 3:02 PM
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3 Comments:
At 6:20 PM ,
Shayna Willis said...
Your SAT score is 200 points higher than the one I got. But you're right they don't mean anything . . . ;-)
At 4:45 AM ,
Anonymous said...
i knew shayna would comment, because we had this conversation this weekend. but it killed the traffic jam. i guess i won't tell you what my SAT score was, and yes, it was before the 2000 point system. my twin beat me tho. sux. but no, it has not determined my life, AT ALL. you're right, the skill to cope and adapt to a changing situation are far more valuable than an arbitrary number.
At 8:50 AM ,
crazykarl7 said...
I think the problem is that you didn't tell people your SAT score. I would drop mine everywhere I went. Women would fall on their knees and worship me, teachers would give me preferential treatment, universities far and wide would try and recruit me.
I would tell you what that score was, but honestly it's just easier for everyone if I don't. I don't have time to dodge the glory these days.
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