Teach to the Test — or How to Think? - Chicago Sun-Times

Ask children to pick the best answer to the following question:

I’m more likely to succeed in life if …

a) I get pregnant at 15.

b) Join a local street gang to keep from getting killed.

c) Score well on a standardized test.

d) Make sure to stay out of Dad’s way when he comes home drunk.

My guess is that many Chicago public school students exhibit life skills each day that would astound adults.

They don’t get extra credit for after-hours study.

Winners and losers, that’s what we want to define.

One teacher’s students excel in academic work and will go on to college.

Another teacher’s students don’t score well on tests and will never attend a university. But they come to class each day.

But suppose I were to tell you that the second group of students would have quit school without that teacher.