“Ursula was devastated when her boyfriend broke up with her after having sex. To get revenge, she had sex with his best friend the next day. Ursula had a beautiful baby girl 9 months later. Ursula has type O blood, her ex-boyfriend is type AB blood, and his best friend is type A blood. If her baby daddy is her ex-boyfriend, what could her baby’s possible blood type(s) NOT be?”
The full context of the story can be found here. (or here.)
We are educators. Professionals. We aim to move students forward, upward and higher. We aim to inspire children to learn to think beyond the knowledge they are given and to apply the knowledge to whatever challenges life sends their way. We sacrifice our time and our treasure to ensure our students make gains. We aspire to challenge students to be the best person they can possibly be. So, I found it quite jarring to read the aforementioned question.
Furthermore, looking closely, I found it disturbing to read the instructions with a glaring misspelling. I found it further distressing to read the comments made beneath the news story. People stating horrible things about people with varying views. Yikes!
Two things step to the front of the line for me.
- Is this question moving students forward to their best possible future?
- Is this question the best one to allow students to express their knowledge of the material and their ability to apply the knowledge to real word examples?
We have a real point of influence in all that we do and say. While students do not always express their absorption of our teaching, they are absorbing the things that we do and say, and are influenced thereby. We can see it in the recent walkouts in schools. Teachers had a real point of influence in the student walkouts. Some teachers are still influencing students on that topic. Some teachers have a profound impact on the direction the life of a student may take. To whom much is given, much shall be required. Teachers have this unique relationship with students that we need to cherish, to honor and to protect. We must be careful to instill the best we can into the lives of students. We don't need to replicate ourselves in them, we need to offer them the tools they need to become the best people they can be and in doing so, to learn to be contributing the best gifts they can to those around them.
When choosing books for students to read, when writing tests, when developing units we need to be thinking if this will bring out the best in our students. For me, this question brought out what is base and common. The use of revenge sex and baby daddy was not cultivating the best future for those students. I understand some will defend it as being "real" or in touch with where those students are. However, I don't want to teach people to remain who they are because it is real, I want to teach people who are striving to improve who they are for the future. I know people will say that achievement testing has been out of touch with different ethnic groups, but I'm fairly certain that no one here, whatever the ethnic or cultural background, desires to have their daughter make them grandparents before gaining high school diploma. I'm fairly certain that most parents want their daughter to graduate at least high school, with a hope of going to college without the responsibility of being a parent themselves. This question is skewed toward the paternity of the baby, rather than the life the mother (and the father) will need to lead. I find this distressing and sad. I want every one of the children I am teaching to be in the best position to attend college. I want to teach them that what they are doing today has a direct influence on their final outcome. I don't want to select a test question that limits their future or reminds them that they can never climb past where they are today. The personalizing in this question was completely unnecessary, as was the coarse way in which it was handled.
Real world application does not mean worst world scenario application. At least it should not mean the worst world scenario.
Duval County is examining their position on this. I hope they will move to eradicate things that push people down and replace them with things that elevate students. Education should be an elevator with an up button only.
First published 4/28/18
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