Standardized Testing

Stephanie Davis, a fellow colleague, comments on standardized testing in schools and new changes that will come if Texas House Bill 742 comes to pass. She brings up how schools are only focused on students passing standardized test and how school has become “no longer fun or exciting.” She also mentions that schools need to be more accommodating to all types of students when it comes to the testing environment.

Davis claims that standardized tests in schools are ruining the way children view learning. She suggests that a new method of testing should be implemented in schools that will encourage and empower students to love learning. Although she believes House Bill 742 is a start, it is not enough and more should be done to combat this problem. 

I agree with Davis when she says, “[s]chool should be fun.” Texas has recently replaced the TAKS test (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) with the STAAR test (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness), increasing the amount of tests students must take at the end of each school year. High school students must take and end-of-course exam (EOC) for Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and US History. This places a large amount of stress on students and teachers alike. This type of testing drives competition between schools, taking away an important goal in the process—student success. Another disadvantage to these tests is that they only focus on certain subjects and dismisses the creative part of learning. I do believe that testing is necessary to give teachers guidance and track students’ progress, but I believe our current method of testing might be burning out our students. 

Should We Keep Funding Planned Parenthood?

The GOP—currently the dominant party—will soon get their wish to oust Planned Parenthood. Their ongoing fight against the organization will affect the health of many women in Texas due to recent state budget cuts. The health centers provide education on a variety of topics: body image, pregnancy, relationships, sex, sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender. They also offer general health care services that include screenings, physical exams, vaccinations, etc. 

Planned Parenthood aids low-income individuals so they are able to receive medical attention. Many women and men would be left without a way to receive affordable medical treatment and education on sexual reproduction and family planning, should the federal government cut their funds from the organization. This will heavily impact the health of patients who currently attend these health clinics.

The vast majority that is against Planned Parenthood is only in opposition because of the abortion services that they provide. Of all the funding that the organization receives, only three percent is used to fund abortions. This small percentage of funding doesn’t even come from the federal government, so taxpayers that are pro-life cannot argue that their money is supporting abortions. 

There are many arguments between pro-life and pro-choice individuals, but there might be a solution. Scientists are coming up with new methods of contraception in order to reduce the amount of abortions due to unplanned pregnancies. In addition to these new methods, Texas has recently placed numerous regulations on abortions. Although I do not agree with House Bill 2 as a whole, there are many regulations set that are just. The bill allows abortions to women whose life is at risk or if the fetus has severe abnormalities and forbids abortions after 20 weeks gestation due to research revealing that a fetus can endure pain at 20 weeks development.  

Transportation Along the Texas Triangle

Kyle Ames, a fellow colleague, comments on the upcoming project by Texas Central Partners in a recent blog post. This project will connect Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas—Texas' largest cities that make up the Texas Triangle—via high-speed train. 

Although I agree with Ames when he says, "Texas can benefit in more ways than one," he forgets to provide reasons why the high-speed rail system will benefit Texas and its economy. As the population of Texas' cities increases so will traffic. The result of this project will help reduce traffic congestion on Texas' major highways. The high-speed train will also reduce pollution, creating new jobs, save travelers time and money, and provide travelers with a safer method of transportation.