When Did We Stop Calling Him Billy?

Billy, a sixth grade special education student, experiences a “meltdown” that contributes to his poor performance on a single state assessment. This case portrays the extreme pressures that schools now face, and the dire, long-term consequences for students. In an environment in which children are now referred to by their test scores instead of their names, the question is also posed: Do schools now value performance over nderstanding and learning?

Discussion Questions

1. How could the two cultures (the less experienced and more experienced teachers) work together to make the school better?
2. What can Billy’s meltdown help show regarding standardized testing?
3. How can Billy be put more at ease?