by Simonne Liberty

Created on: June 06, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2009

In my opinion our entire education system has become a focus of testing rather than teaching. Even in elementary school, testing has taken over all the fun of learning. Teachers literally teach simply to have students pass exams. The value of actually learning for learning's sake has been lost in the obsession of testing students simply to record grade scores. It is not about enjoying the information in order to retain it any more.

The old fashioned methods of hand on teaching, when children would play, laugh , dance and sing and bring in show and tell, have all but been forgotten. Now it is all about pushing advanced math and technology down their throats; things that no doubt will change before they are even out of school. We are not teaching children any more. We are "programing them," as if they are little machines.

Natural abilities and talents are only recognized if the child happens to fit into the technical mold of our advancing world of science. Art programs are being weeded out of school curriculums. It is a fact that all people derive more knowledge from one side or the other of their brains. One side is the artistic side, while the other deals with the technical side.

Our school leaders and officials no doubt lean toward the technical side of their brains, because they expect all students to think as they do. They make up all the exams according to their side of the brain. It is also a fact that half of all high school students drop out of school. Could one reason be that many of these students are forced to learn things from the side of their brain that is far too hard for them to grasp?

Years ago students were forced to write only with their right hand. If they were born left handed, they were forced to use their right hand anyway. Any right handed person knows how difficult it is to write with their left hand. Is it any wonder students give up, and drop out when they are forced to use their technical side of their brains to pass academic exams, when they are not technically blessed?

I once admitted myself into a mental health unit of a hospital due to depression. Much of my depression was caused from struggling to pass exams in order to obtain employment. While in this unit, I learned a lesson about myself. I realized that not being able to pass exams did not make me "stupid."

We were required to go to "Art Therapy " to help us calm down and relax. Since I have an artistic mind, I loved this class. However, a female doctor, who was

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