I have some exciting news – I’m not quite 100% ready to share it with you juuuust yet, but the time will come. I’ll just leave you one little hint:
OK, now that we’ve got that sorted out. I have a problem. I am interested in earning an endorsement on my current teaching license (the reason why is part of my secret, as mentioned above), and in all honesty, the best program (the most reputable and the best fit for what I need) I can find is a full Masters (even though I already have an M.Ed. and certainly feel no need to earn another one). Unfortunately that’s where the problem comes in.
I. Can. Not. Take. The. GRE.
I just can’t. I can do reading and writing, no problem. It’s the math. Alex just forced me to find the sample math problems online and I seriously couldn’t even do the first one. I just don’t see why I need to know that a negative number with an even numbered exponent creates a positive number. How does that affect my daily life? Why do I need to know that to get a Master’s degree?
And, duh, I already have a Master’s, so doesn’t that prove that I can do Master’s level work? Isn’t it called the “Graduate Readiness Exam”? Obviously I’m ready. I already finished one graduate degree (magically without having to do any fancy math work).
Plus, I’m not a big fan of ETS in the first place. The whole thing is just a money-making racket. Why would I want to give them the satisfaction of not only taking my money but making my life a living hell for the months it will take me to prepare for the stupid exam that is? I’ve already taken the PSATs, SATs, and the Praxis Exams (by the way, I scored the top possible score on the math section of the Praxis, so I do know some math). Isn’t that enough?
Now I’m not saying I’m stupid. And I’m certainly not saying I can’t sit down and learn the stupid math for the stupid test. But, you know what? I’m an adult. I’ve survived this long without knowing it. I don’t want to know it. And I really don’t want to make the effort to learn it.
So, really, is this wrong? Am I a bad person for not wanting to better myself mathematically?
Image from: http://www.inm-asiaguides.com/thailand/bangkok/phrakaew1.jpg
Right there with you! I consider myself to be a somewhat intelligent person, but I suuuuuuuuuuuuuuck at math! Like, to the extent that I can barely help my middle school students with their math work when they ask me for it. Why must I prove that I can do math? I seem to have reached adulthood, acquired an undergrad and graduate degree, and secured good jobs without it, so what is the big deal if I’m not good at it? Stupid GRE!!!!!!!
Thanks Mairin! I appreciate your support. You know I wouldn’t have that much of a problem with the test if I could actually see how this would impact my daily life or help me with my job, but so far: no go.
I recently read a fantastic book about the perils of standardized testing: The Truth About Testing: An Educators Call to Action by James Popham. He describes in detail how standardized tests came to be (through the army in the 1970s) and how entirely ineffective they are for determining a person’s skill level. That’s enough to convince me that I don’t want to participate in any standardized tests. Ever.
Standardized tests! Yuck! What do they prove, anyway? Certainly not intelligence. And yet, these tests are the gatekeepers to higher education – undergrad. and grad. So, if a full Master’s is your goal, why not get tutoring to hone your math skills?
I do support your feelings re: ETS. And I cannot TELL you the numbers of kids at my school who spend thousands of dollars per year for SAT prep. courses.
Well Babe, I would fail the math thing too. Anything beyond simple addition leaves me cold. I can’t even remember a number that I use let alone a theory on how to stick them together. Maybe you could send my husband the math part?
Don’t lose heart though, you know things happen for a reason… I know… it is all about me… but I was hoping your little secret was a baby!
Maybe you could do your Masters in Canada. There are plenty of excellent U’s here – also with distance Ed… I could suggest a few really good schools – like my own Queen’s or U of Toronto to name a couple. What degree program are you hoping for?
I know how you feel about the GRE. I took it and did well on the writing, but my math score was embarrassing.
Miss Profe,
Standardized tests are frightening – the impact they have on education, with no apparant benefit, is like a waking nightmare.
Laura,
Sorry, no baby. For sure no baby. We are SO not ready right now. In fact, you already know the news. I’m just not ready to advertise it here yet
Preya,
Tell me more! How bad was it? I know I can learn the math. That’s not even really the problem. The problem is I don’t want to take the time, money, and effort to learn the math. In the long run it just doesn’t seem worth it… The endorsement I can get will be good enough, and franky, I will learn more on the job than I will doing the degree.
Hey Kim,
I know sensibly that you and Alex won’t have a baby for a while… but of course when I read about a little secret… I was feeling overjoyed… I thought I could live vicariously through you once again!
Interesting that I had the husband read up here and he started to rant on about the benefits of Math skills but then he was really worried that he might offend… anyway I was surprised this morning when there was no posting from him… I guess he got super cold feet (having, surprisingly, nothing to do with the MINUS 38 degrees cold weather snap that we are currently experiencing!!!!)
Nice this year though that we have our third floor renovations nearly done – which means that the important part (insulation) is now done and we are a toasty R42 rating up there so we find the whole house stays just where the heat is set! It is brilliant when compared to the first years here. The walls are also painted now too… I had them done in a tropical shade of orange which is similar to orange juice with shot of grenadine. Now when you go up there you automatically feel that you should put on your shorts and sit under a palm tree with a pina colada, Jackie O glasses and a good book. Funny how a colour (Canadian spelling) can change one’s thermostat so much! Nearly 40 below and we bask here in comfort. We are really blessed.
I really miss you a lot!