If you think back far enough, you will likely remember a time when you cried in school. Perhaps it was on the playground in elementary school or it may have been because of bullying in junior high. In any case, we may have snuck off to a quiet corner and had a good cry. Then again, you may not have ever cried at school but in either case, you will love this story.
Many of us equate tears to sadness but that is not always the case. At times, tears may flow because we’re simply overwhelmed with emotion, regardless of whether it is happiness, sadness or anything else. In this story, tears of joy are the subject but it was misunderstood first. The mother, Abby Martin, didn’t understand why her son Rylan was crying in school but he did tell her he was embarrassed because he did it.
After discovering why her son was crying, she was also overwhelmed with emotion. In fact, she decided to share it on Instagram, because it was in the form of a letter from his third grade teacher.
It seems as if the students were set to take their first of many standardized tests. Reading and math tests, such as these, are important for funding for the school district but unfortunately, it can place a lot of stress on the students. That is especially the case when it comes to students like Rylan.
Since it was such a “make or break” moment, the teacher decided to do something about it.
His teacher wrote a beautiful letter, talking about the way that these controversial tests are not a true indicator of the student. It doesn’t matter if it is a love of music, sports or art, math and grammar tests simply cannot reveal it. A test doesn’t know if you are a nice person, it only knows if you are smart or if you are good at taking tests.
When the letter hit the Internet, it certainly did make some noise and it has gone viral.
Next week you will take your ISTEP test for math and reading, and two weeks after that you will take your IREAD test. I know how hard you have worked, but there is something very important you must know.
The ISTEP and IREAD tests do not assess all of what makes you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you like I do, and certainly not the way your families do.
They do not know that some of you speak two languages, or that you love to sing or draw. They have not seen your natural talent for dancing. They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them, that your laughter can brighten the darkest day, or that your face turns red when you feel shy. They do not know that you participate in sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes you help with your little brother or little sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy, and thoughtful… and every day you try to be your very best.
The scores you will get from these tests will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. These tests do not define you. There are many ways of being smart. YOU are smart! You are enough! You are the light that brightens my day and the reason I am happy to come to work each day. So, in the midst of all these tests, remember that there is no way to “test” all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU.
All I ask is that you do your personal best and do not give up. You have been working for this since kindergarten and are ready! I believe in you!
Via: Instagram
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