Test time

The annual academic testing season is gearing up.  Honestly though, in today’s test-heavy climate, the impact is less dramatic than in previous years, when testing was used more appropriately to mark school progress.

I long for a time when attention is shifted toward character education, social-emotional growth and executive functioning.  Although the recent emphasis of “Play’s the thing” during early childhood is a healthy and welcome movement, we have a long way to go before skills like sustained attention, goal-directed persistance and metacognition receive the necessary attention.