For those of you that are unaware of Michigan’s educational system, students that reside in the State of Michigan have to take a series of tests formerly known as the MEAP—now known as the MME or something ridiculous. As a part of the curriculum, students from second grade to tenth take three hour tests in reading, writing, science, social studies, and mathematics. After the tests are complete, they are sent to the State of Michigan for analysis. When the scores arrive back at the school, students can receive a score from one to four with four being the highest. While failure of the test wasn’t a major factor in progressing to the next grade and remaining in the same classroom, it brought misfortune to many students.
Crazyenglishlover102: My mom said I failed the meap whatever that means
Cantcatchme873: That’s too bad when did you find out
Crazyenglishlover102: A few minutes ago
Crazyenglishlover102: she told me that I had to talk to her about it before I could go play outside
Cantcatchme873: damn that hella sux dude
Crazyenglishlover102: it does but I think its because of ms wong you know she doesn’t like me
Crazyenglishlover102: and ooh im telling youre mom that youre cussing on the computer
Cantcatchme873: don’t! She caught me one time and took the computer away for a whole week and yea I know she doesn’t like you
Cantcatchme873: she only likes me because im smart
Crazyenglishlover102: and because youre a girl she likes the smart ones and the girls that’s why I failed the meap
Cantcatchme873: I guess so
Cantcatchme873: well I hope your talk with ur mom goes okay or ur gonna get in trouble cuz u know how she is
Cantcatchme873: but I gotta go to dance practice so ill ttyl
Crazyenglishlover102: peace see u in class tomorrow (if im still alive)
"Cornell!" my mother yelled up the stairs, "Come downstairs, son. It's time to eat, and I want to talk with you about your MEAP scores."
"Alright, let me finish what I'm doing on the computer"
"No! I said now. You're going to get enough of letting that computer run your life."
[Just a quick flash-forward to my current, adult life]: The computer has succeeded in running a great deal of my life. The good this is that I'm not alone.
"Son, I want you to know that while you did 'fail' the MEAP test, I think you're a good writer. You need a little work, and, good news, we're going to improve your skills. I'm going to make sure you do. You know I think Ms. Wong had a lot to do with your score, but you cannot let that affect how you perform in the class.”
“I know that mommy, but she doesn’t like me at all. What do I do?”
“Mrs. Wong is not your future. You are your future, and people aren’t going to always like you. Here’s the deal. You have goals, and you cannot let anyone be put in your way. You’re not in her class much longer. Do what she says and if you have any problems, you let me know and the adults will handle them. Okay?”
“Yes, mom.”
The MEAP test is still something that I do not like discussing. It still pains me very deeply that I failed a test that was deemed so easy by the rest of my classmates. Even now, I look back at students taking the test and wonder where I went wrong. Studying education, however, I realize that I was actually rather correct in my nine-year old analysis. My fourth grade teacher did have student preferences, and I clearly was not one of them. As a result of her disdain for me, I wasn’t afforded the opportunities for extra help like many of the other struggling students were. I was simply allowed to fall in the cracks. The sad part is that I know that I was not the only student she affected in this way. Thankfully, she retired shortly after I progressed to the next grade, but I still can’t help but think about the students in the subsequent classes after my year with her. Did some of them fail the MEAP? Was it entirely their fault? Did Mrs. Wong continue to choose favorites? Truthfully, I don’t know and probably will never know. What I do know, however, is that my failure of the MEAP test stayed with me for a long time; in fact, I still wonder why. Thankfully, I had a strong support network of adults that were all rooting for me to succeed in all of my subjects—not just writing. Still, I cannot help but worry about those students that did not have that support network. Where did their educational careers take them? Did they ever make it to college? While I am looking at the worst case scenarios (as I often do), in education, many tragic events are a result of the trickle-down effect. While failing the MEAP test was an opportunity for me to grow and learn more about my writing, it may have just as easily been an excuse for a student to withdraw.
Crazyenglishlover102: My mom said I failed the meap whatever that means
Cantcatchme873: That’s too bad when did you find out
Crazyenglishlover102: A few minutes ago
Crazyenglishlover102: she told me that I had to talk to her about it before I could go play outside
Cantcatchme873: damn that hella sux dude
Crazyenglishlover102: it does but I think its because of ms wong you know she doesn’t like me
Crazyenglishlover102: and ooh im telling youre mom that youre cussing on the computer
Cantcatchme873: don’t! She caught me one time and took the computer away for a whole week and yea I know she doesn’t like you
Cantcatchme873: she only likes me because im smart
Crazyenglishlover102: and because youre a girl she likes the smart ones and the girls that’s why I failed the meap
Cantcatchme873: I guess so
Cantcatchme873: well I hope your talk with ur mom goes okay or ur gonna get in trouble cuz u know how she is
Cantcatchme873: but I gotta go to dance practice so ill ttyl
Crazyenglishlover102: peace see u in class tomorrow (if im still alive)
"Cornell!" my mother yelled up the stairs, "Come downstairs, son. It's time to eat, and I want to talk with you about your MEAP scores."
"Alright, let me finish what I'm doing on the computer"
"No! I said now. You're going to get enough of letting that computer run your life."
[Just a quick flash-forward to my current, adult life]: The computer has succeeded in running a great deal of my life. The good this is that I'm not alone.
"Son, I want you to know that while you did 'fail' the MEAP test, I think you're a good writer. You need a little work, and, good news, we're going to improve your skills. I'm going to make sure you do. You know I think Ms. Wong had a lot to do with your score, but you cannot let that affect how you perform in the class.”
“I know that mommy, but she doesn’t like me at all. What do I do?”
“Mrs. Wong is not your future. You are your future, and people aren’t going to always like you. Here’s the deal. You have goals, and you cannot let anyone be put in your way. You’re not in her class much longer. Do what she says and if you have any problems, you let me know and the adults will handle them. Okay?”
“Yes, mom.”
The MEAP test is still something that I do not like discussing. It still pains me very deeply that I failed a test that was deemed so easy by the rest of my classmates. Even now, I look back at students taking the test and wonder where I went wrong. Studying education, however, I realize that I was actually rather correct in my nine-year old analysis. My fourth grade teacher did have student preferences, and I clearly was not one of them. As a result of her disdain for me, I wasn’t afforded the opportunities for extra help like many of the other struggling students were. I was simply allowed to fall in the cracks. The sad part is that I know that I was not the only student she affected in this way. Thankfully, she retired shortly after I progressed to the next grade, but I still can’t help but think about the students in the subsequent classes after my year with her. Did some of them fail the MEAP? Was it entirely their fault? Did Mrs. Wong continue to choose favorites? Truthfully, I don’t know and probably will never know. What I do know, however, is that my failure of the MEAP test stayed with me for a long time; in fact, I still wonder why. Thankfully, I had a strong support network of adults that were all rooting for me to succeed in all of my subjects—not just writing. Still, I cannot help but worry about those students that did not have that support network. Where did their educational careers take them? Did they ever make it to college? While I am looking at the worst case scenarios (as I often do), in education, many tragic events are a result of the trickle-down effect. While failing the MEAP test was an opportunity for me to grow and learn more about my writing, it may have just as easily been an excuse for a student to withdraw.
