Oh no, my child is behind! What do I do?

• Disclaimer: standardized tests are required for all students in a public school, including charters. If you don't like them, leave.

Who hasn't heard from a teacher that their child is behind? This was my personal experience for years. Every testing season I was constantly being reminded of how I was failing as a homeschool mom. I was not told that directly, but I am sure the test scores said it all.

I used to sit with my boys as they took the required standardized tests and I watched them click the wrong answers on questions about subjects we literally just covered! I also recognized all the subjects we just hadn't gotten to yet. The teacher meetings afterward (thank God I loved our homeschool teacher) contained a lot of talk about how my child was behind. "Lets try an intervention to help," they say. "Should we test him for an IEP?" Let's not forget the hours of crying because the kid didn't know the answer, couldn't read the question by himself, or the paragraph was just too long. What an emotional roller coaster.

When did standardized testing start and who gets to decide what kids learn at certain ages? Think about it. Whoever decides what kids should know, how that information is taught, and at what ages, holds a lot of power. With that said, let's take a journey into the historical roots of standardized education and see where it leads us.

Public schools can be dated as far back as 1635 with the Boston Latin School being the oldest school on record. Over the years, communities came together to educate children corporately for the purpose of ensuring that students grew up with godly morals, became good citizens, and developed into the very best adults they could be. That seems like a very thoughtful idea; however, the responsibility to raise children to become God - fearing, decent, human beings, is a parent's job, not the educational system. I will also note, the most elite children in communities at this time, were homeschooled. Almost everyone else attended schools based on religious affiliations.

Continuing with our journey. School reform came through a man named Horace Mann in 1837. He was the Secretary of Education in Massachusetts and played a huge role in the history of the public school system. He passed laws requiring mandatory school attendance, regulated teacher training, and created the first ever standardized tests. It was these regulated standards that brought about "educational disabilities." There are certainly children that need accommodations when learning, I am not talking about them. I am talking about the children who couldn't conform to compulsory education because every child is different, learns different, and contain God-given special talents and abilities that never get showcased in standardized educational settings, so we label them.

Interestingly enough, the same man that standardized education also founded the first mental institution in 1833. You may research this man for yourself and you will find that history has sung the praises of Horace Mann; however, the very definition of standardize is to cause something to conform. I would like to add . . . conform to whom or what? The link to more information about the history of standardized education can be found here: https://greathomeschoolconventions.com/blog/public-education-history

Do I hate public schools? No; however, they are stifling creativity and ignorant to the vast array of intelligences. For more on the 8 types of intelligence visit : https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.html

We cannot allow standardized testing to rule how we educate our children. God made them with gifts and talents. The truth is, your child is a one-of-a-kind. Another does not exist. So why should how your child rates on a conformity test matter? It shouldn't. In fact, the Bible is the ultimate standard for raising up children and educating children. Romans 12:2 says "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Romans 12:2)."

With that being said, don't let the pendulum swing in the other direction and teach your children nothing. Oftentimes, urgency in education is essential and testing can be helpful; however, the mindset of homeschooling should be life is school and thus we are always learning. Standardized tests should only be applied to standard practices and there is nothing standard about homeschooling.

Therefore, the next time you find yourself reading the star360 or iReady to your child because they can't read it themselves, remember this: your child will learn everything they need to know by the time they need to know it. Also, kids study very differently when information they need to know gets them a drivers license, admission into the military or college, or job position. Timing is everything.

Let me leave you with this encouragement: this time and your influence over your children is priceless. Don't let the outcome of a standardized test change the goals and directions God has planned for your homeschool journey. Homeschooling according to God's standards exceeds all other standards in morals and excellence.

Written by: Mrs. Erin