Soumya Krishnamurthy

While living in the US, I started reading news and political articles from both sides of the spectrum so that I could understand the country I was living in better. In the beginning it was a big shock. I was challenged on many deeply held beliefs and ideology, especially but not limited to abortion, gun rights, access to education and healthcare. While my opinions were not changed, I could at least appreciate the difference in opinion. Years later, I have started again to understand better what to expect from the US.very often I find the president echo the articles written and the views of the readers who are referred to as his "base". It is important to keep an open mind and follow these comments no matter how difficult it is. The people with these views control the government of the US today and maybe even years to come! We ignore or berate them to our own peril. Give them a voice, so we can hear them, debate their ideas. Too much is at stake. Read this article fro...

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife-trade-market-ban-restrictions-china-wuhan-a9459796.html Thank you Independent for giving this issue front page cover. An excellent time to refocus on the mistreatment of animals in the name of medicine. Let’s be clear though this is not about Wuhan or China. While they are in the news, the issue concerns everyone who has used TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) or enabled its production and sale. Traditions and cultures have their place but do not justify harming animals and killing them. I for one have decided not to eat at restaurants which serve “exotic” animals. Easier for me as I am vegetarian.

As we take a pause to take in the shock that is coronavirus, it is time to reevaluate what is important and how we can make our lives more fulfilling and productive, not just for our own individual selfish selves but our world as a whole. This year for me has been a reckoning and I hope to use my time and voice to speak about what matters to me. Sustainable living, protecting our natural environment and better pay and opportunities for everyone.  Rather than just write my opinions, my goal is to read news, find articles that speak to me and highlight them. Most of the time these are hidden behind Trump’s tantrums or lies, politics, scandal of the moment etc.  Our actions today will impact our future and those of the coming generations. The time to act and speak is NOW.

As I dig deeper, I read so much about contradicting views and even alarmist attitudes to continuing the same in America. Stressed high-school students, focus on test results and not quest for knowledge, extremely competitive and expensive access to university and hence jobs...there are many warnings we are heading towards a precipice. This his confusing. If so many feel the situation is not tenable, why keep it? The answer is probably complacency. A belief that we are the best. Not looking beyond our borders. The person credited with bring the modern education system to America was influenced by the Prussian system. But today how many policy makers go out in search of a better way. Hardly any. We feel we have attained the best there is and are too smug to find a better way. 

Starting from my opposition to the extreme reliance of tests, I am starting to look into the history of education, rather schooling (focus on US where I am right now). Also wondering the impact of data mining and machine learning as they become more and more common. The advantage of testing, as many proponents of testing point out is that it enables policy makers to evaluate schools, teachers, curriculum...most importantly student progress. What other method is as scalable, reliable and non-discriminatory. It is a fact that standardised testing has shed light on student achievement between ethnic groups, economically disparate groups, differently abled students etc. But like any other facet of life, too much is not too good. Schools are already collecting the test data and mining it. This is another great opportunity. Machine learning can allow early intervention, highlight problems, guide learning outside classroom etc. But again, blind over-reliance to punish schools, teachers o...

Part of the big focus on university admission, almost measuring success by the school we go to, puts a lot of emphasis on testing. Because one of the very important factors used by universities to assess a student is test scores. So a test taken ay 16-18 brands us for life. Not only that, the "tests" only glimpse into all that makes a person. So the whole premise is flawed. Teachers are valued by how well they prepare the students for the tests, schools are teaching to maximise results, these results affect house prices, and tell a kid at 18 how good or bad they are. Period. One mistake and you will remember that for the rest of your life. Are all countries like this? Am I over-reacting? Apparently not, this is the focus of a new book by Daniel Koretz called the Testing Charade which I am reading right now. As a teacher, parent, student, I am not in favour of the high emphasis we place on testing and curious how it plays out and more importantly, what are the alternativ...