A high school student gives his thoughts following the film.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
A screening of a documentary about the education system in America sparked an interesting conversation last week in Newtown.
College students, parents, educators and school officials all took part in a discussion after the film “Beyond Measure” was screened at the Zlock Performing Arts Center at Bucks County Community College’s Newtown campus.
Robin Luberski of Falls Township came out to the showing of the film and said change is needed in America’s traditional education system. She said her one daughter struggles in the traditional testing setting despite being intelligent.
“There’s room for improvement in the schools. Everything is focused on tests. Parents need to be involved, and I know not all kids’ parents are as involved as I have been,” she said.
Luberski said she liked the techniques used by some of the non-traditional classrooms focused on in the documentary.
A Council Rock High School North student spoke up that the “current system puts pressure to achieve on test on kids.” He added, “many people are blinded by the idea of a good traditional education.” The high schooler advocated for an approach that didn’t just focus on a few tests to define a student’s education.
David Baugh, superintendent of the Centennial School District, said he supported the limited standardized testing approach advocated by some educators in the documentary.
“Kids get into good schools, but the best colleges looks at the best problem solvers and not the test takers,” he said. The superintendent, who also served with Bensalem schools for several years and the Neshaminy School District for a short period of time, told the crowd he likes the idea of opting out of state testing.
David Baugh, superintendent of the Centennial School District, speaking to the crowd after the documentary was screened.
Credit: Tom Sofield/NewtownPANow.com
“There is a crop of new educators with new ideas,” he said. “I’m thrilled teachers are telling parents to opt out of [standardized] testing.”
Baugh and others who spoke following the documentary said standardized testing was taking too much time away from students learning how to solve problems and grow.
Pennsbury graduate and Bucks County Community College student Jaclyn Griffin, who serves as president of the college’s Future Teachers Organization, said she hopes the idea of moving away from standardized testing and actually letting students grow their minds takes hold as she enters the profession.
“How do you define success?’ Community college Professor Kate D’Auria asked the audience.
D’Auria’s question didn’t seem to have just one answer.
“Our system isn’t perfect but our schools are good,” Baugh said, adding that changing the system starts with one or two teachers at a time.
