Tests simply need to be a confirmation of a rich and creative experience. Schools and politicians can only deal with some aspects of this issue. Parents also need to step up and take the time to make our homes centers of learning. Turning off the television and video games and turning on good music, educational games and a good book takes time and effort. But studies also show that the best predictors of individual educational success are factors in the home, not the test scores of the school or the education ranking of the state.
Schools are out in most of the country.
But parents cannot afford to let learning stop for the summer. While the school year may be dedicated to testing, we should take advantage of the summer to encourage our children to rediscover the love of learning. Without it, we lose what has historically distinguished Americans and what will ultimately offer our children the greatest chance to excel.