Affected Clapping

A revealing article in the NY Daily News (who knew?) on Wednesday about 8th graders protesting “yet another” standardized test.

You can read the article here.

What’s more interesting are the comments readers made at the article’s online home. I’m not sure if it’s legal or not to re-post comments from another website, but since when has legality stopped me (seriously though, if this is a major faux pas let me know).

Children should be seen and not heard, they are children, they are still developing, they think they know it all, Douglas Avella is an instigator and should be dismissed immediately. Rules were made to be obey, they and not matured enough to understand the world.

Posted by Fahynoe on May 21, 2008 8:03 AM

Are you serious? This man is doing what is supposed to be done. And then people want to know why America is behind the power curve when it comes to academics. You do what the teacher says do in a classrom. You might think that these exams are just to pass tests, but some things stick from the classroom, whether this is the case or not. Education is key - get it when you can. Some people can’t even get an education. I am telling you what I know. I am a soldier here stationed in Iraq right now, and trust me, these kids would literally kill for an education. While these fortunate children are complaining. Parents and teachers, please don’t fall into the trap and let this go. Give that teacher back his class and let him drive on. If they don’t want to take the exam - make it a legit part of their grade, and then fail them. that will change their attitude

Posted by STNICK145 on May 21, 2008 8:03 AM

Let’s remember several things here: (1) this was a DIAGNOSTICS test which does not count for anything but for testing companies to assess test design. (2) I commend the students for taking charge and protesting againste a process that is a total waste of valuable instructional time (3) If the school were in the Upper East Side, students would have been commended for their bravery, their intelligence, and paricipation in social action.

Posted by give_me_a_break on May 21, 2008 8:50 AM

I’m glad I don’t have kids. I couldn’t imagine my child having to deal with adult stupidity.

Posted by UpstateLady on May 21, 2008 9:11 AM

how many teachers right now are between the ages of 21-25, young and female? these girls are not even women because they dont act like it, have not seen enough of the world, have not participated in the normal functioning of the world, yet are trying to teach our kids. these same girls that i went to school with, that failed math and english, nevermind the rest of the topics. these girls spend their thurs, fri, sat and sunday nights drinking in bars, man y of the time, side by side with the high school kids they teach. have u seen these teachers myspaces? its disgusting. but these are the teachers nyc is hiring…

Posted by KellyBK on May 21, 2008 11:13 AM

I like the last quote the best. You’re right KellyBK–my old MySpace page WAS atrocious. It was also spammed all the time, so I took it down. But you’re a real perceptive one, I can tell.

PS: thanks are due to Dangerously Irrelvant for leading me to this article.

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