A New Member of the Family: Help your child transition before the little one arrives

A New Member of the Family: Help your child transition before the little one arrives

By Yesenia Pineda

 

With a new baby on the way comes various and sometimes difficult changes for the family. This transition can prove to be even more difficult when an older child or children are involved. Depending on the child's age, the new addition to the family can have positive or negative affects on the child. The transition is usually easier to deal with when the child is entering their teens or is older because they become a form of support for the family. When the child is in their early, toddler, or elementary years there is usually a different outcome.

In these early years of life children are extremely egocentric, making them the center of the parents' universe. They expect their needs to be met when they want and will react negatively when it is not done. From the time we are babies, our parents spend every waking moment with us and when someone else comes in and steals that spot light unfavorable feelings being to emerge. A child begins to feel jealous of the fact that everything is no longer about them. They no longer acquire 100% of their parents love and affection, instead they now have to share it with a new member of the family. In these types of situations “the child that was once the baby of the family now feels replaced, ignored or unloved, and feels jealous toward the new baby, who is receiving all the attention. Some can become very attached to their parents and feel threatened” (Braverman, 2010).

 

This jealousy could lead the child to behave in various ways in order to cope with the transition. Of these behaviors, the child may feel the need to fight for their parents' attention acting very attached or regressing, acting like a baby, or even acting out in order to get a reaction from parents. Also acting “overly affectionate toward the object of jealousy, making everything about the baby....another coping mechanism for the emotions the child is feeling” (Braverman, 2010). On the opposite spectrum the child may become detached and isolate themselves from others feeling that they have been replaced. Also “according to Dr. Spock, some children may become aggressive, acting out violently against the new baby” (Braverman, 2010). In order to try to avoid these types of behaviors parents should seek ways to prepare children for the arrival of a new baby.

 

Here are some helpful tips for parents to help children transition during the pregnancy:

• Communicate with your child about the arrival of their new baby sibling.
• Read books about pregnancy, siblings, newborns etc.
• Engage in fun activities that will prepare them to take on the role of big bother/sister.
• Watch or look at pictures of videos from when they were a new baby. Explain to they how they were as babies and how everyone acted around them as a baby.

 

• Allow they to practice holding and interacting with a baby with a use of a doll. They could also visit a friend who has a baby to gain experience.
• Encourage your child's involvement in the transition process. For example taking them shopping for baby supplies, toys, and clothes or allowing to decorate the baby's room with you.
• Check with your hospital about attending sibling preparation classes and hospital tours.
• Explain to your child what they can expect when the new baby arrives. For example how the baby will require a lot of your attention, but that does not mean that they are being replaced or they love them any less.
• Explain to them the benefits of being the older sibling.
• Allow the child to express their thoughts and feelings about the transition. Be available and open to answering any questions your child may have with patience and sincerely. Make it clear that you will always love them.

           (Mayo Clinic, 2012) (Boyse, 2009).

As a parent you should take the time out to help your child cope with the arrival with their new baby sibling. It is a difficult time that many young children and parents don't know how to deal with. It is best take some of these useful tips and put them to practice before the baby arrives. By doing so you may see that your child's behavior for the new baby may be positive and the stress and anxiety you had about it is removed. You will notice that the transition is a bit easier for the whole family.

 

 

Questions:

How do you think sibling jealousy can affect the dynamics of the family?

What effects can this type of jealousy have on the children later on in life?

References:

Braverman, J. (2010). Jealousy in kids and children. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/81524-jealousy-kids-children/

 

Boyse, K. (2009). New baby sibling: Helping Your older child (or children) adjust. Retrieved from University of Michigan, Health System

website http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/newbaby.htm

Mayo Foundation for Medical Educatoin and Research. (2012). New sibling: Preparing your older child. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/new-sibling/MY01940

 

Related Topics:

 

For Kids:

Fun Activities to Prepare Children to be a Big Brother/Sister

Learn All About What to Expect with your New Sibling

 For Parents:

Sibling Rivalry: Help your children get along

Helpful Tools for Parents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DON'T CUT THE ARTS!

 By Ray Cohen

            In my home state of Connecticut, the economy is not going very well, and my town of Coventry, as well as many other towns, is having to make tough choices when it comes to their budget.  Since public education is always a huge item in any town budget, the board of education is always under pressure to make cuts and save money.  Unfortunately, one of the first places that seems to get targeted for cuts is arts programs in the schools.  This is probably because the arts, such as music programs and visual art classes, might seem like luxuries or extras when it comes to  balancing a budget.

            A few years ago a superintendent in California was quoted as saying, “Why should I pay music teachers when my students can’t read?” (Hetland, 2008, p. 1).  This is the same kind of question that comes up today in Town Council and Board of Ed meetings in my hometown and many others.  People ask, why should we pay for kids to paint and play the flute when they’re already falling behind in math and science and other “real” subjects?  Some people might think the arts are nice extras for kids to have, but if something has to be cut from the budget, it’s the extras that have to go.

            However, one thing that everyone needs to realize is that the arts actually should not be viewed as “extras.”  The arts are vital to education, and not just for students who plan on being artists.  The arts actually help most students become better thinkers in many subjects.  There is much evidence to support this.  In fact, evidence shows that the students who are involved in the arts have higher standardized test scores (Smith , 2009).  Research from Harvard shows that the arts in education is one of the best ways to teach students critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and synthesis skills (Hetland, 2008).

The Board of Education in my town, and all other towns, should consider the point of view of Robert Root-Bernstein, who is a MacArthur Fellow and Professor of Physiology Michigan State University.  He says, “I've just published a study that shows that almost all Nobel laureates in the sciences are actively engaged in arts…Many connect their art with their scientific creativity.  Moreover, the folks who produce new patentable inventions and found the new companies to produce them – they, too, are artistically trained.  Ninety percent of them, in interviews, expressed the opinion that the arts should be part of every scientists’ and technologists’ education” (Baker, 2012, Pro and Con section).  Professor Root-Bernstein is a scientist, not an artist, but he is a total supporter of arts in education because he understands that the arts help students learn to be creative thinkers and problem solvers.  As he sums up, “Successful innovators in science and technology are artistic people.  Stimulate the arts, and you stimulate innovation” (Baker, 2012, Pro and Con section).

            Some people in my town who speak up at our town budgets meetings point out that if parents want “extras” for their kids – like the arts and sports – then they are free to pay for it on their own.  I remember when I was attending a town meeting for my Civics class in high school, one mother who didn’t want her taxes raised said something like, “My kids take piano lessons, and I’m pay for them myself, and other people can do the same.”  The problem with that attitude is that not all children have parents who can afford to expose them to the arts.  School may be the only place where many kids will ever come into contact with the arts, and for many kids, the arts can change and even save their lives.  As a society we need to give this opportunity to all kids, not just the kids from middle class or rich homes. 

            Here is what the U.S. Department of Education Secretary, named Arne Duncan, said about this in 2010:  “In America, we do not reserve arts education for privileged students or the elite.  Children from disadvantaged backgrounds, students who are English language learners, and students with disabilities often do not get the enrichment experiences of affluent students anywhere except at school.  President Obama recalls that when he was a child ‘you always had an art teacher and a music teacher.  Even in the poorest school districts everyone had access to music and other arts.’  Today, sadly, that is no longer the case” (NEA, 2011).  It really bothers me to think that many kids today are missing out on discovering their own talents in the arts and missing out on learning just because they are poor.

            It’s great that the arts help kids learn more and do better on tests, but there is more to it than just grades and academics.  The arts may be the one thing that helps some students feel good about themselves.  Being involved in band, drama, photography or some other art experience can help kids out emotionally and socially in really important ways.  The arts can give kids a reason to want to be at school in the first place and can motivate them to stay in school.

            I can speak from personal experience about why it’s important to have arts in the school.  I can honestly say that music has saved my life. Fortunately I had an amazing band teacher in high school that was also a fellow percussionist. He was absolutely incredible, and ingrained music into my soul and my life has benefited dramatically since it became a serious part of my life. I always played music forever but never had the passion for it as I did in high school with the exposure he gave me. Music is what set me apart from many of my friends, it gave me motivation to work harder so I could spend more time on it, it provides comfort in an activity instead of festering negative thoughts, its fun, and connects me with all human beings. Music especially, but all art for that matter creates a common ground of something bigger than any individual and allows individuals to come together. Music has allowed me to create friendships and connections with people that have helped the quality of my life so much. I have rhythm from drumming inside me now, and that is something that I value very much, and something that no one can ever take away from me. Many times teachers of the arts see the world in a different way. My teacher allowed me to begin to see the world differently and truly changed my perception of life for the better, in a difficult time in high school. Many students like me struggle to connect in other subjects but art or music can give them meaning in life. Without them in our schools, we are cheating students out of potentially the most important experiences in their lives.

References

Baker, B. (2012, March 16). Arts Education. CQ Researcher, 22, 253-276. Retrieved

            from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/

Hetland, L. (2008, March). “Basically, Arts Are Basic.” School Administrator Mar. 2008:

 14+.  Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com

Rabkin, N. (2011, Feb. 24).  “Arts Education In America.” National Endowment for the     Arts.  Retrieved from www.nea.gov

Smith. F. (2009, Jan. 28).  “Why Arts Education Is Crucial, and Who’s Doing It Best.”     Edutopia.  Retrieved from www.edutopia.org

Motherhood and Pregnancy: Should Expectant Mothers Drink Alcohol While Pregnant?

Currently there is much debate concerning whether expecting mothers should be allowed to indulge in a glass of wine on occasion. The traditional opinion is that alcohol is completely detrimental to the life of the fetus, and mothers should not drink alcoholic beverages under any circumstances.  Clearly, binge drinking poses the most danger to the fetus because it is exposed to highly concentrated levels of alcohol at one period in time. Even a glass of wine a day can result in “spontaneous abortions and to reduced alertness, less vigorous body activity, more tremors, and slower learning in newborns compared with babies of women who do not drink” (Bukatko & Daehler, 2012, p. 125).  These complications in newborns can lead to learning disabilities and behavior problems over time. This means that a child will have poorer performance in school compared to classmates whose mothers did not consume alcohol while pregnant. It is less known however if a small amount of alcohol once a week or month has measurable long term affects on the child. The Center For Disease Control has found that since 2002, pregnant women have been increasingly indulging in a glass of wine or two “every now and then” (Drexler, 2012).  Recently a study was published by the “International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reporting that consuming up to nine drinks in one week, and even as many as five in one sitting, did not have any significant negative cognitive effect on kids five years later” (Drexler, 2012).

This research conflicts with Bukatko & Daehler’s (2012) findings that “limited alcohol consumption” has a negative affect on the fetus and can lead to more issues in the future.  Pregnant women have two different sources telling them what is right and what is wrong, making it difficult to decide what is right to do. Drexler (2012) equates moderate drinking during pregnancy to eating moderate amounts of raw fish and caffeine, which are seen as far more acceptable to society. She suggests that it is society who presses women to not drink and not science. While it is still common practice by medical professionals to recommend complete abstinence from drinking during pregnancy, some suggest that a glass of wine here and there is completely safe. A South African study notes that alcohol consumption alone is not the only risk in giving birth to a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Maternal risk factors include age, body mass index, and socioeconomic status all play a factor in a child developing fetal alcohol syndrome (May et al., 2011). In example, lighter shorter women with a lower BMI will be more likely to give birth to a child with fetal alcohol syndrome than a taller heavier woman who consumed the same amount of alcohol (May, et al., 2011). For these reasons, it would be unwise for women to consume any amount of alcohol for the exact amounts that may affect one woman’s child may not hurt the other. Because there is no certainty, it is safer to be cautious and not indulge in drinking any alcohol.

            Personally, I feel that no matter the research, it is safer for the mother and child to not consume alcohol at all during pregnancy. Since there is a greater risk in spontaneous abortions and the child being born with neurological and cognitive differences when alcohol is consumed, it is unwise to consume at all (Bukatko & Daehler, 2012). Today people are very concerned with having a child who does not have any genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, and will test in-utero to see if their child has any genetic or chromosomal abnormalities. We try so hard to prevent these genetic conditions, yet some pregnant women take the risk of drinking alcohol very well knowing that there is a chance it could harm her baby or child. I would not condemn a woman for having a glass of wine once or twice during her pregnancy, but I do not think doctors should be suggesting that it is ok to do until scientific studies make more progress in figuring out the amount of alcohol that is dangerous to a certain woman of a certain body type. Further, some women may be more susceptible to abuse once they have that one drink; it can be hard to stop drinking once a person starts. If there is any chance that alcohol could be abused, it is not wise to have any at all. In the end, it is only about 10 months that a woman must give up drinking alcohol, which is a small sacrifice for the return of a healthy baby. 

Here is an interesting link to a NPR story concerning drinking while pregnant. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/04/17/177644483/study-finds-no-harm-in-occasional-drink-during-pregnancy

Questions:

What are your opinions on drinking while pregnant?

Do you think doctors should have a universal recommendation for pregnant women?

If you saw a pregnant woman indulging in a glass of wine, would you say anything to her?

By Julia Paglierani

References

Bukatko, D., & Daehler, M. (2012). Child development: A thematic approach (6 ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

           

Drexler, P. (2012, February 25). A loaded question: On drinking when pregnant.  Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-gender-ourselves/201211/loaded-question-drinking-while-pregnant

           

May, P., Tabachnick, B., Gossange, J. P., Kalberg, W., Marais, A.-S., Robinson, L., . . . Hoyme, H. E. (2011). Maternal risk factors predicting child physical characteristics and dysmorphology in fetal alcohol syndrome and partial fetal alcohol syndrome. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 119(1-2), 18-27.

           

Motherhood and Pregnancy.... and the cost of child care.

Toni Miller

"A woman with a child rediscovers the world.  All is changed - politics, loyalties, needs. For now all is judged by the life of the child... and of all children." -Pam Brown

-----------------------

There are many books out there that claim to be "real" with you about the truths of pregnancy and motherhood.  Sure they'll fill you in with information about yucky stuff no woman should know before deciding whether or not to create, but what most books fail to tell you is... the truth.

I have often wondered many things about motherhood. For example, who is a mother?  Who is still getting pregnant and how old are they?  Some things can be shared with high school aged children as it may help increase awareness about motherhood and pregnancy, and help keep teen pregnancy rates down.

Although motherhood is defined as a kinship between an offspring and the mother, I would argue that a mother can be any woman who has passed on her wisdom, truths, ideals or encouragement to her kin, or stranger alike. I argue this definition because we all have had someone other than our mother who has cared for our emotional, social, educational, religious and physical well-being.

After posing a question on Facebook about what people are interested in learning before parenthood, an overwhelming number of women talked about childcare as the number one expense they wish they really understood beforehand. Below you will find a link describing one mother's view regarding the task and challenges of finding proper childcare. Note that this woman identifies as a middle-class citizen living in a two-income residence yet still finds the cost of care high. Imagine the difficulty a single-parent may face deciding whether to spend money on childcare or stay home to care for children while getting government assistance like welfare and WIC. 

 "The task begin asking around, assessing the various options in our South Shore town – corporate, nonprofit, or family day care? Nanny or nanny-share? Au pair? Grandma? .... And like many who have trod this well-worn path, what I discover is that for middle-class, two-income families, the costs of child care are shockingly high, even though for the people we hire to care for our kids, the pay is shockingly low. And – since no parent or provider wants to sacrifice quality, political support for universal child care is close to nil, and my new employer, like most, doesn’t provide an on-site center or subsidize one off-site – there’s no easy solution.

The quality of day care in Massachusetts is quite good, too – if you’re willing and able to pay for it. Thanks to the Department of Early Education and Care, which regulates both home day cares and centers, the state has some of the most stringent rules in the nation -- 29 percent in the state compared with 9 percent nationwide.  Massachusetts has the highest average day-care costs in the nation: The price tag to place one infant in day care for a year averages $18,773, or 18 percent of the average two-parent family’s wages and a whopping 67 percent of the average single mom’s pay. (A 4-year-old’s care costs $13,158, also a national high.)  The reality is, most of us don’t pay $25,000 to $30,000 a year for nannies or center care, because we can’t. Many parents turn to in-home day care, which is as regulated as – but can be cheaper than – center care, since overhead, including rent and labor, is lower.  

I am beginning to suspect that the high cost of care is driving more decisions not to return to work than any “opt-out revolution” or newly fashionable desire to be home. The reality is, there are plenty of families who need that second paycheck, despite its depletion by child care, and there are also masses of stay-at-home moms who would love to return to work but have taken a look at the economics and conceded defeat."

This is only one "cost" of having a child, and you can see that it weighs heavily on the family. The article continues to talk about help for low-income families and the cost that the child may incur due to less resources given to some daycares. 

"And there is state help for low-income families. Around 55,000 Massachusetts children are in care paid for through financial assistance. Another 22,000 kids are on the waiting list. However, the quality of preschool classrooms in Boston child-care centers serving these children is often inferior to those serving middle-income families... That’s because the state reimburses centers at below-market rates, so the centers have to try to get by on less. According to a study this September by the National Women’s Law Center, caring for an infant costs a Massachusetts center $2,032 per month. But the state only pays child-care providers $1,181 a month – and they can’t make up the difference by charging parents. Among the corners that get cut are “wages, materials, safety,” says Helen Blank, the Law Center’s director of leadership and public policy. The system is “not giving low-income parents the ability to buy high-quality care.” 

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2010/12/12/the_day_care_squeeze/

• During the 2013 State of the Union, President Obama spoke about the importance of early childhood education because he recognizes that the lack of access to preschool education has damaging effects on poor children that can, and will shadow them for the rest of their life. He agreed that children should not have to  "start race of life already behind."

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2013/02/14/high-quality-early-education-all-children

• There is assistance to parents living just at the poverty line, however, not much. In fact, during my tiny Facebook inquiry, some comments regarding health care included: 

"I wish I knew how hard it is to find daycare. It's so dang expensive. My university offers childcare to the students with children, but there is a long wait list. I have to pay someone to stay with my son twice a week while I attend classes, and have to miss class if my sitter bails. It's very hard. My son is worth it, but hard."

"I second that comment, and I wish I knew it didn't matter how hard you you work, the preschools cater to those with vouchers, and sit on their butts all day and the moms what bust their butts get no help. The government doesn't really care."

"I also wish I knew that the government offers no help for daycare unless you get cash benefits from welfare. It seems like the government sees no need to take care of the children in this country so their moms can work. Instead they want to basically force you into a welfare program or you have to pay $250 a week! No bueno."

"I think the thing I found the most surprising was the lack of post partum care for the mother. This includes breastfeeding help- which is by far the hardest thing in the world that no one tells you about. I just felt if you had someone coming to you I check on you it would help a lot. There are a lot of resources that ou can pay for or go to, but who can afford that and who can get out of the house with a newborn. I feel like hospitals and health care providers just expect you to give birth and poof you are back to normal."

http://www.massresources.org/child-care.html

• Below you will find a link to explore the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. Here you will find information on current trends in pregnancy within the U.S. as well as by country. I was most interested in learning the pregnancy rates by age, state and race.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_07.pdf

• Here is a link to help you plan for parenthood, or not. The website provides proper planning for what to do before and during pregnancy, and even what to do should you find yourself with an unplanned pregnancy. I found the website helpful to help with questions I should be asking myself, like how many years do I want between my children? What method do I plan to use to prevent pregnancy until I’m ready to have children? What, if anything, do I want to change about my health, relationships, home, school, work, finances, or other parts of my life to get ready to have children?

http://www.cdc.gov/preconception/reproductiveplan.html


For your viewing pleasure, a funny video for those thinking of motherhood...

• One thing is for sure, if I could look like Halle Berry (below), pregnant and 46, I'll gladly wait until later in life. :)

Questions for the students:
1.  If you could not conceive naturally, would you choose adoption first, or would you prefer another method in which your eggs could be used to create an embryo? Why or why not? (please answer second question only if you are comfortable doing so.)
2.  Identify some resources that could help make your transition into pregnancy and motherhood easier?

Below is a link providing families with resources to deal with trauma surrounding the marathon disaster; including recovering emotionally, how to talk to children about the incident, as well as where to receive services locally through programs such as 'victims of violence', adult and child psychiatry.

http://www.cambridgepublichealth.org/news/article.php?id=136

Works Cited:

photo:
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/63873_10151291344248081_1787166402_n.jpg 

websites:
motherly.com/community/t/407493/childbirth-motherhood-quotes
cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr60/nvsr60_07.pdf

Text:
Hays, Sharon. Article - The Mommy Wars: Ambivilence, Ideological Work, and the Cultural Contradictions of Motherhood (pgs. 57-74).                                                                      

Seccombe, Karen. Families and Their Socail Worlds; 2nd ed., Pearson. 2012

Parental Leave

Nicole Fabiano

Parental Leave

           Parental leave varies significantly by country. The United States has some of the worst legislation in terms of offered maternity leave and benefits. The Family and Medial Leave act "requires larger employers and public agencies to provide up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave — as well as continuation of health benefits" (Bernard, 2013). Other countries in the world offer significantly more time, and require at least a portion of the paycheck to be paid.

          The United States claims to be one of the greatest and most progressive countries in the world and yet we offer family benefits similar to those in some third world countries. Research continues to show that child development is significantly benefited when a parent spends more time with their child after birth. Many employers are aware of this and try to offer more time and benefits, but this is difficult without government funding. Even more unfortunately, some companies offer only the required benefits, which poses a lot of issues for the families, especially in terms of child care.

           The leading country in terms of benefits is Sweden. They offer 480 days of leave to be shared between each parent, and for 390 of the 480 days, parents receive 80% of their usual paycheck. It seems hard to believe that a country that claims to be so elite would be so behind on personal benefits for its citizens.

Questions:

1. Do you have any ideas as to how we can begin to improve our current family leave legislation?

2. Were you aware of any of these issues before this class? For example, had you heard any of these facts from mainstream media?

Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/your-money/us-trails-much-of-the-world-in-providing-paid-family-leave.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.sweden.se/eng/Home/Work/Labor-market/Employment-based-benefits/

Related Information:

http://www.npr.org/blogs/babyproject/2011/08/09/139121410/parental-leave-the-swedes-are-the-most-generous

Common Core Standardized Tests by Joe Sansone

Ever since the Bush administration initiated the No Child Left Behind act in 2002, standardized testing has been the norm in public schools.  No Child Left Behind had the intentions of holding schools accountable for their effectiveness in their classrooms.  Unfortunately the tests ended up punishing schools, specifically poor and minority schools.  In many cases, standardized testing distracts classrooms from their usual curriculum in order for students to catch up for what might be on the test.  At the time No Child Left Behind was passed, the United States ranked 18th in math; by 2009, we slipped to 31st.

Even with teachers getting their students to catch up on missed material, many topics are still not covered that end up on tests.  Younger test takers are experiencing severe test related stress.  Standardized test “Stanford-9” even comes with instructions for teachers on what to do in case a student vomits in their test booklet.  Many older students do not take standardized test seriously, knowing it will not affect their grades.

The Obama administration has offered grant money to states to adopt the "Common Core" program's standards for standardized test.  Common Core sets unified, rigorous standards for goals in the classroom, focusing on critical thinking skills, abstract reasoning in math, and reading comprehension.  45 states have adopted Common Core so far.  Last year, Kentucky became the first state to implement Common Core policies.  Doing so, their state test scores plummeted from previous years.

New York introduced their new Common Core compliant standardized test earlier this week on Tuesday.  The test proved to be more difficult than expected.  Many teachers and students were not adequately prepared for the test’s difficulty.  Students found the amount of time they had to finish the test was too short, not completing all the problems in time. 

The test has many parents concerned for their children’s futures, specifically in areas like New York City.  Results from the tests could determine where a student goes to middle school and high school.  Some parents are protesting the new standardized test, forbidding their children to take it.  About one third of the students at Manhattan's Earth School’s parents opted out of their children taking the test.  One Hudson Valley middle school principal, Dr. Katie Zahedi, saw 55 of 480 students sit out of the exam.  She too did not feel strongly about the tests, stating “the amount of disruption this is creating is actually a threat to the quality of education”.

However New York Education Department head Ken Wagner insists these tests are essential for college and workforce preparation.  One of his concerns is the worries and stress of parents are rubbing off on their children during these tests.  Wagner says, “We have to think very strategically about the messages that students are getting from the adults they are around”.

While there is certainly outrage and backlash against standardized testing, it appears is going to be a present factor in our country’s educational system for a while.  We have already seen the effects of No Child Left Behind and the effectiveness of Common Core will be available soon enough.

Questions:

-Should parents be opting their children out of standardized testing if they oppose to the tests?

-Is it fair to determine the future of a student’s education (e.g. determining high school placement) based on standardized testing?

Sources: 

Baker, Al & Hernández, Javier (2013). A Tough New Test Spurs Protest and Tears. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/education/common-core-testing-spurs-outrage-and-protest-among-parents.html?ref=education

Spencer, Kyle (2013). Students Face Tougher Tests That Outpace Lesson Plans. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/15/nyregion/with-tougher-standardized-tests-a-reminder-to-breathe.html

Standardized Tests: Pros and Cons (2013). Retrieved from http://standardizedtests.procon.org/