There are lots of reasons people call each other stupid. To some, if your opinions are different than mine, you're stupid. Because if you weren't stupid, you'd think just like I do. Other people are called stupid if they didn't do particularly well in school or business.
Personally, I don't like to call someone stupid. People have different talents, and everybody on earth can do at least one thing well that I can't.
That's the basic message sent to students by school principal Rachel Tomlinson. She included a letter in each student's packet of standardized test results. The letter reminds students of all the things a standardized test doesn't measure. Here it is:
"Please find enclosed your end of KS2 test results. We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during this tricky week.
However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that makes each of you special and unique.
The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you—the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.
They do not know that many of you speak two languages.
They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture.
They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day.
They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.
They do not know that you have traveled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.
They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best… the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.
So enjoy your results and be very proud of these but remember there are many ways of being smart."
I've been out of school for 30 years, but now I want to go back. And I want to go to Rachel Tomlinson's school.
