Question: How would transcendentals react to the standardization of testing that we currently employ in schools? Would they even consider this education?
Standardized Tests Face a Crisis Over Standards
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: March 22, 2006
"NEVER has the nation's education system been so reliant on standardized tests and the companies that make them. Thanks to the federal No Child Left Behind Law, this year, for the first time, every student from third to eighth grade and one high school grade must take state tests. That is about 45 million tests to be graded annually and it does not even include all the standardized tests now required for professional certification, or the SAT, ACT, AP, GRE exams, to name a few..."
TRANSCENDENTAL REVIEW:
Transcendentals would have viewed standardized testing as an EVIL ruining the individualism of students' educations and bringing about a era of conformity. The amount of money begin spent on these tests would also appall them, as they would not understand spending so much money for such an teribble institution. Ralph Waldo
Emerson stated in his essay, "Self-reliance", that "there is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide"(Emerson). Standardized testing is forcing imitation and conformity among every man's education which is exactly what Emerson was seeking to eradicate. This imitation is "suicide". Here, Emerson is implying that education can not be the same with every man; therefore, an imitated education is a failed one. Emerson was not alone in his beliefs, in "Walden's Conclusion" by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau stresses the importance of individualism. "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer." This is the epitome of individualism and uniqueness, which is killed by standardized testing. The transcendental ideals of non-conformity and wisdom are in direct opposition to the idea of standardized testing, and figures like Emerson and Thoreau would be offended to see such mediums of "education".
Standardized Tests Face a Crisis Over Standards
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: March 22, 2006
"NEVER has the nation's education system been so reliant on standardized tests and the companies that make them. Thanks to the federal No Child Left Behind Law, this year, for the first time, every student from third to eighth grade and one high school grade must take state tests. That is about 45 million tests to be graded annually and it does not even include all the standardized tests now required for professional certification, or the SAT, ACT, AP, GRE exams, to name a few..."
TRANSCENDENTAL REVIEW:
Transcendentals would have viewed standardized testing as an EVIL ruining the individualism of students' educations and bringing about a era of conformity. The amount of money begin spent on these tests would also appall them, as they would not understand spending so much money for such an teribble institution. Ralph Waldo
Emerson stated in his essay, "Self-reliance", that "there is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide"(Emerson). Standardized testing is forcing imitation and conformity among every man's education which is exactly what Emerson was seeking to eradicate. This imitation is "suicide". Here, Emerson is implying that education can not be the same with every man; therefore, an imitated education is a failed one. Emerson was not alone in his beliefs, in "Walden's Conclusion" by Henry David Thoreau, Thoreau stresses the importance of individualism. "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps he hears a different drummer." This is the epitome of individualism and uniqueness, which is killed by standardized testing. The transcendental ideals of non-conformity and wisdom are in direct opposition to the idea of standardized testing, and figures like Emerson and Thoreau would be offended to see such mediums of "education".
Question: How would transcendentals react to the current pollution of the environment? How would they come to terms with the fact that something they once held so sacred is now being wasted and disregarded?
TRANSCENDENTAL REVIEW:
"Nature always wears the color of the spirit." This quote from Emerson's "Nature" shows the impact that transcendentals believed nature had on the lives of every human. He would be absolutely disgusted to see something that gives us so much insight into our own souls being ruined. Nature, to Emerson, was a reflection of the human mind and spirit. It helped many find meaning in their life and the destruction of such a force would be devastating to him. Nature also represented the non-conformity and escape from society's ills. Emerson would be frightened to know that society has taken over that one shred of innocence, that society managed to ruin one of the only things left sacred and untainted. He wouldn't be able to grasp the concept that many humans no longer cared about nature, the thing that was guiding them in generations past.
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