From my observation, there is, at present, much too much emphasis on testing in the public schools. In Washington state, the WASL is the one main test that acts as the 'proof of the pudding' that a child is educated and a school is doing its job.   The result is too much emphasis being placed on 'performance' and 'skill' and teachers feeling that they must 'teach to the test'.

I think most of us would agree that our planet is currently in crisis and our children's future uncertain. Not enough is being done, it seems, in the area of 'environmental education', as it seems, to some at least, to have a 'bias'. This view needs changing. We're all in this together.  We need to continue a focus on building knowledge and skill in areas that will create students that can perform well in whatever the future holds.  But we also need to create student 'activists', who feel passionate about being 'environmental stewards', willing to use the... Read more