If you saw today's Oprah Show (a rebroadcast from months ago), then you saw failing, crumbling schools right here in America. You're supposed to be shocked. But anyone who's done even a bit of investigation into why U.S. schools are failing or why students aren't learning or whether it's even a good idea to send their children to public school already knows that American schools are in a lot of trouble.
I really would like to meet some people who were shocked by the show, because they have sooooooo much to learn! I was especially sad to see a parent crying on national television because her child goes to school in a poor school district, so the school can't afford resources for its students. A few students in a similarly lousy school building were taking photos of the awful physical condition of the building. They weren't doing it to shame their principal, which I bet is what happened anyway, but to simply call attention to their school.
I felt really bad for the young woman who was valedictorian of her high school and then was floundering once she was in college. She felt like high school didn't prepare her at all for what was coming up in college. I see Test Essay Prep as something that is trying to fill some huge holes. I'm scared that the problem of education is so big, that it will take some time to reverse the negative effects. In the meantime, though, students drop out of school, some graduate, some go on to college, some drop out there, and some graduate from college. High school students who see college as one of their life goals need to be prepared for everything that could happen on the way to that goal - the SAT (or even just the SAT essay part!) is just one of those hurdles that can change a future. It's a lot of pressure, and a lot to think about.
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