Kid Suspended for Refusing to Answer Exam Question

Eesh, poor kid.

I noted that some of you asked why he didn't put another answer down. He was nine years old...that's why. His mind was not mature enough to be able to understand that (or come up with some alternative thoughts). Some children might be, but he was not, and that is not of his own fault.,

I already forsee this leading to the woman trying to get rich from the BoE. However, it's not the BoE's fault...it's the NCLB policy coupled by the prin at that school. The NCLB is idiotic. When I was in HS, they were just starting to implement that. We were the first class to take it, but the results didn't count. I did fine in Math but horrible in history. Why? Simply because the class I had consisted of students from a variety of nations and the teacher rather had EVERYONE learn the material than 30% of the class. Hence, we didn't get too far, too fast.

Now, granted, I would say that it would be best if they had split that class into two classes. Those who needed more time could have it, and those who didn't could go faster or go through history with more detail.

Nevertheless, the way it is now, teachers in HS in the US CAN'T spend that extra time with students because they have to cover so much material. I saw several teachers literally retired or just out-right quit because they hated this new policy. It's not because they were 'quitters' but rather it went against their mode of teaching (The mode of having everyone or mostly everyone understand the topic VS going through everything you have planned and if no one gets it, just shrug and say 'That's life').

I'm not saying that those schools that have really low scores should get extra aid...because that money should be given to those who NEED AND DESERVE it (a combination of both, not one or the either). How this can be done is beyond me at this point.

Back to the kid. There is no reason he should have been suspended for refusing to answer a question. A blank answer is wrong. A unclear answer is wrong. Two answers for a one-answer question is wrong. A wrong answer is wrong. If you get a wrong answer, you lose a point or don't get a point depending on the type of test. That's all that should happen given the circumstances. The prin should be fired, no questions about it. The parents though should relax. There IS a point where you need to comfort the child, but at some point you gotta "jolt" them back into their normal selves.

Jam it back in, in the dark.