A teacher in the UK has become the educator of everybody’s dreams after a letter she sent home to each of her students went viral for being a tear-inducing masterpiece.
Rachel Tomlinson is the head teacher at Barrowford Primary, and some of her students recently had to take their ‘Key Stage 2’ tests (basically a standardised test in the same vein as the Australian NAPLAN).
Understanding that standardised test scores only measure certain kinds of skills, Tomlinson wanted her students to know that there are many different ways to be talented and intelligent.
So, she sent this letter home to each student with their Ks2 test results:
Here’s the full text of the letter:
Please find enclosed your end of KS2 test results. We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during this tricky week.
However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you– the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.
They do not know that many of you speak two languages. They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture.
They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day. They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.
They do not know that you have travelled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.
They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best… the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.
So enjoy your results and be very proud of these but remember there are many ways of being smart.
The letter has since gone crazy viral, and the staff at Barrowford Primary are thrilled with the reaction:
Nailed it, Ms Tomlinson. Nailed it.
Now how do we get a letter like this sent home after every NAPLAN?
Top Comments
I taught for 10 years before returning to university where I will soon complete a Bachelor of Speech Pathology. In my opinion, the money that is spent on NAPLAN, particularly in primary school, would best be spent on assessing speech and language skills of ALL preschool aged children (~3 year olds) and the provision of speech pathology services for those identified with a delay or disorder. Then reassess them prior to beginning school (~5 year old) so that support systems can be put in place for them. And in an ideal world - all primary schools would have a full time speechie on site :-)
I am a high school teacher. I am not allowed to send any written correspondence to parents on School letterheads without the approval of my Principal. My principal would never allow such a letter to be sent. Teachers at many schools are not allowed to comment or express personal opinions on standardised tests, or school policies.
Urm, it WAS the head teacher who sent this out.