Testing Week

Teachers know all about giving their students the STAR test, which is the standardized test that gives students the opportunity to demonstrate what they've learned or how well they've learned it. Or how well teachers have taught it.

As an art teacher, I haven't had to worry much about that. The tests focus mostly on Math, English, and some history. But wouldn't it be interesting if writers were expected to take tests? You know, to show how much they've learned about writing. Just think, in order to be a published author, writers had to take a test and achieve a certain score to be allowed to remain published.

I know it sounds stupid. Or does it? Maybe if writers did that, then the amount of prospective authors out there would be reduced. Probably would. But I'm just thinking out loud, really. It's a ridiculous notion. Still, if you consider the amount of submissions that agents and publishers get every year, it's a staggering number. I've heard people joke that there are more writers out there than readers. It sure seems that way.

And I wish everyone could achieve their goals and find success. But it's like actors, musicians, and professional athletes. There is no shortage of any of them. Only a small percentage of them will make it big, or even make it at all. I often hear from students that what they want to be when they grow up is a professional basketball player. I look at who is telling me this. Often it's a little Filipino boy, who will never even reach six feet in height. And he's telling me he's planning on playing in the NBA.

Don't worry. I don't squash his dreams. I just say, well, you've got to work hard. But I also stress that getting good grades and going to college is a part of achieving his goals. If nothing else, that's the one thing I did right as a kid. I stayed in school and graduated from college. I wanted to be a professional artist, and I was, but not in the big time. Not enough to support myself or a family. Being a teacher is what allowed for that. But without that degree, a career in teaching wouldn't have been possible.

So stay in school. Get that degree. If you get drafted into the NBA or NFL, or become a movie star, or a rock star, (or even a famous author,) then that's wonderful. But if you don't, you will at least have something to back you up. And a college degree will go a long way in that regard.