Bill Ayers - The Obsession with Testing

The video discusses the inherent value of students and critiques the current obsession with standardized testing and performance metrics in education. It argues that these metrics often fail to capture the true dynamism and potential of students. Instead, the focus should be on understanding the whole educational environment, including relationships and curiosity, rather than reducing success to simple metrics.

What does the speaker believe about the value of students?

• Every student has incalculable value and is on a unique journey.

• Students should be judged solely on test scores.

• The value of students is determined by their future success.

• Students are only valuable if they excel academically.

How does the speaker describe assessments in the classroom?

• Assessments are definitive and conclusive.

• Assessments are partial and always in motion.

• Assessments are unnecessary in education.

• Assessments should be avoided at all costs.

What analogy does the speaker use to explain the problem with performance metrics?

• A school that focuses on sports.

• A hospital that measures success by 30-day survival rates.

• A company that only values profits.

• A restaurant that only serves one dish.

What is the speaker's view on schools that boast about sending all students to college?

• They have the most diverse programs.

• They are the best schools.

• They focus too much on sports.

• They might be misleading in their success.

What does the speaker suggest should be considered when judging a classroom?

• The entire learning environment and relationships.

• Only standardized test scores.

• The amount of homework given.

• The number of students who graduate.