Passage1
KimberleyAsselinsitsinarockingchairinfrontofher22kindergartners,aglisteningsmileacrossherfaceasshegreetsthemforthemorning.Evenat9a.m.,sheiseffervescentandcharismatic.
YetbehindAsselin′sbrightexpression,herenthusiasmisfading.
Asselin,24,isdaysawayfromfinishingherfirstyearasateacher,thecareerofherdreamssinceshewasalittlegirlgivingarithmeticlessonsonadry-eraseboardtoherstuffedbearsanddolls.
WhileshebegantheschoolyearinVirginia′sFairfaxCountyfullofoptimism,Asselinnowfindsherself,asmanyyoungteachersdo,questioningherfutureasaneducator.WhatchangedinthemonthsbetweenAugustandJuneShesaysthatanonslaughtofteststhatshe′srequiredtogivetoherfive-andsix-year-oldstudentshasbroughtherdowntoreality.
"It′smorethanafirst-yearteachereverimagines,"Asselinsaid."Youdefinitelyhavealotofhighsandlows,anditkeepsgoingupanddownandupanddown."
NewfederaldatathattheEducationDepartmentreleasedinAprilshowsthatabout10percentofnewteachersleavetheprofessionwithinthefirstyearonthejob,and17percentleavewithinfiveyearsofstarting.Thoughfarlowerthanearlierestimates,itstillmeansthatmanyyoungeducatorsbailfromtheclassroombeforetheygainmuchofafoothold.ForAsselin,testinghasbeenthebiggeststressor.
TheproliferationoftestinginschoolshasbecomeoneofthemostcontentioustopicsinU.S.education.Theexamscanalterthecourseofastudent′sschoolingandcandeterminewhetherateacherispromotedorfired.InVirginia,schoolsearngradesonstate-issuedreportcardsbasedonthescoresstudentsearnonmandatoryend-of-yearexams.
TheFairfaxCountyschoolsystem,oneofthenation′slargest,boaststhatitskindergartenstudentstakepartincourseworkthatexceedsthestate′sstandards.Unlikemoststates,VirginiahasneveradoptedtheCommonCoreStateStandards,butVirginiaofficialssaythatthestate′sacademicstandardsarejustas--ormore--rigorous.
Asselinsaidthatmeansthateventheyoungeststudentsinpublicschoolaretraderanacademicmicroscope,makingkindergartenaboutfarmorethansocializationandplaytime.
WhydoesAsselinquestionherfutureasaneducatorinlessthanayear′stime
A.It is a common practice for American young teachers. B.She has experienced too many highs and lows in her work. C.It is totally beyond her expectation to give kids endless test. D.She has grown tired of greeting her kindergartners every day.正确答案C
