Do tests motivate students...?

On a rainy and dreary Saturday morning I was flipping through the channels and I stumbled across one of my favorite childhood shows... Boy Meets World. As I sat there watching several episodes, I came across an episode with a very important topic for educators; a topic we educators are still debating and discussing to this day.

Start the clip at 1:27 and watch until 4:28. This episode originally aired on October, 14, 1994.

Who would have thought that back in 1994 the discussion of what students need to do to show their mastery of content would have been discussed...


Why do we insist upon having students take tests to show their mastery of the content?

Why do we knowingly and willingly kill the love of learning that students possess?

Why do we continue to use outdated strategies that diminish motivation rather than increase?

Why have we spent the last 18 years not changing what we knew was wrong in 1994?


- Are you having these discussions with your colleagues? If you aren't already, it's time to start...