As far as standardized testing goes, I do not agree with it. I've never agreed with timed tests. I do not feel that timed tests are an accurate messurement of one's acedemic ability. Many times, I end up receiving low scores simply because I can't "beat the clock," so-to-speak. It's not that I don't know the answers; I just can't arrive at them as quickly as some students. As a result, I am put at a grave disadvantage.

Also, I feel that too many schools (particularly public schools) place too much emphasis on tradition (i.e. Senior Superlatives, Prom/Homecoming Court, etc.), and not enough on education. My self-esteem has been shattered over the years to the point where I now am at home because I just can't handle the social pressures of being in the school environment. It was beginning to affect my education.

I do plan on attending college. A small school, at that. My hopes are that college will be a much more accepting place that will spend more time focussing on education. It's not that I think socialization is wrong, but I just don't feel it's managed properly at the high school level.

Standardized tests are actaully a big debate at my school, especially state wide regents in New York State. I go to an alternative school, which didn't take the regents(we got a waiver from the state). I think the regents are a big waste of time. Unfortunlety the SAT's which i also think is a big waste of time, is much harder to protest cause most colleges still look at them.

I def plan on attending college, prob a small one but im not sure yet. Maybe like Bard, Universtiy of Maryland(big big) or hampshire. who knows.

I would love to go to college, preferably out of state, b/c I hate it here. What will end up happening is I'll have to go to UTC until I save up enough money to move away from this place.

Education is in such a debockle no one can really solve it. The US government has spent so many years putting in more standardized test. I spoke with my Prinicpal 2 days ago for 1 hour on numerous issues including Standardized test and even he disagrees with them. He believes they hinder teachers from doing their jobs, TEACHING!! States like Florida where I live spend hundreds of millions of dollars just to make these test and to grade them when this sort of money could be used to hire newer and better teachers, more class material and textbooks, I could go on and on. It's time that students stand up for better education in all America's school. I hear politicians say youth are the future, well if we were they would atleast be trying to improve the conditions of education and stop bickering in Washington D.C. and not getting anything done. We need education reform and we need it now!!

See ya,

I decided not to go to college, at the last minute :) In dealing with my decision, I've noticed how college is considered as necessary as a limb, it's very sad to me that it's the way the light and the whatever :) I'm determined to prove that you can learn without institutions and live happily without going through "the system" without being processed, refined and stamped with approval. I've been researching the whole Unschooling thing. I'm all for it I wish it was a bigger movement. I'm not going cuz I can't but cuz it really turns me off. I accepted that I really hate school and that I will probably keep hating it, school is not a healthy environment, and my revulsion is not unwarranted. I don't want to spend my youth in a place like that, preparing to be in more places like that, fighting, and driving myself mad trying to reach goals that mean nothing to me. But I mean I've never liked school, for some people it works they enjoy it they feel rewarded...not me :)

Pintozo, we have so much in common man. When I was planning on going I was gonna go to Bard, or Hampshire or Bennington, or an art school. But even these schools these like alternative progressive colleges are still businesses! They're still places full of upper middle class, suburban white kids, and they cost like at least 35 grand a year. It's just not the sort of environment I thrive in. I don't like being overwhelmed with work or competing. I like learning and enjoying the process. I guess if I wanted to be a doctor or something then I see the need for an institution but I don't wanna be a doctor I'm a creative person. I thought art schools would offer a different sort of environment but art schools are just like any other academic institution, they're ridiculously competitive and you're just working your butt of trying to be "the best" and making sure you can produce a product and "make it." College is such a reflection of the American way, and capitalism, the illusion of scarcity, and competition, and and wow this is a really long post…. so sorry people I'm almost done. I feel that schools along with skills and knowledge, train you to think a certain way and prepare you to live in a certain type of world, and I don't want to buy into that kind of thinking or reality. And let me not get into how impersonal this reality can be! It's not designed to cater to human beings and their spirit but to like, the economy and the rich.