Teaching to the Test: Responding to George Orwell

Out of the several trigger phrases I found, I decided to write about this one because it reminded me of my own experience: “History was a series of unrelated, unintelligible but—in some way that was never explained to us—important facts with resounding phrases tired to them.” Orwell writes this sentence in the midst of a few paragraphs critiquing the drawbacks of the English boarding school’s classical education. Facts were memorized for the sole purpose of passing exams. Wait a minute that sounds a bit like the AP system in today’s schools. AP teachers construct their classes around the AP tests, instructing their students in such a way that will enable them to pass these exams at the end of the year. 

I have mixed reactions and feelings to the AP system. It can either enrich a student’s education or severely limit it, depending largely on a teacher’s approach. For example, my AP chemistry and biology teachers taught us not only what would be on the test but what would give us the fullest possible understanding of the subject. My history classes, however, were less than delightful experiences, which explains why Orwell’s quote resonated with me. Growing up with a history professor father, I had high hopes and expectations for my history classes. But what do I remember? Not even facts or dates as perhaps Orwell remembered. I remember that I couldn’t stay awake in World History. My American History teacher talked more about South Park than about the development of our country. My U.S. Government teacher enjoyed hearing his own political views expressed. My poor performances on my AP history tests (except government, which I taught to myself) probably reflected this poor teaching. My disenchantment with the subject by that point probably didn’t help either.