Disliking Testing In The Classroom

School of Rock is a 2001 film showing how a progressive “teacher” can impact and traditional school and affluent students. In this film, a rock and roll musician, Dewey Finn, becomes a teacher. He has no teaching background and only knows music. He substitute teaches in a private elementary school, called Horace Green. The school is well known in the state and the kids who attend the school are of upper class. The school is set up very traditionally, focuses on grades and testing. One day his students are in music class and he gets an idea to create a band with them, to play in a competition called “Battle of the Bands.” Through hands on learning, Finn creates a classroom much different than the traditional classroom. He simply ignores their

When he walks up to the table one of the teacher says “We were just discussing testing, which test do you prefer?” Finn responds by saying “students should not be tested because they are the future and you as a teacher are able to let them teach, but they must lead the way.” Disliking testing in the classroom is a very progressive idea. Grading kids on what they do and do not understand can be harmful to their education. Traditional schooling tends to prepare kids for exams, but not the real world or to think critically in society. Those who believe in progressive learning are much less likely to push or vouch for testing. This idea that students can have a voice in their education is a strong belief for progressive teachers. Finn backs up his idea of no testing in his classroom. His class room does not follow the regular curriculum, but also the students do not perform written exams, as they would in their old classroom setting. Instead of being rewarded on grades, they are rewarded through the creation of the band. At one point a student even says “I did not do it for the grade,” showing they are doing their learning for themselves. I believe throughout this movie the students learn to understand and enjoy the progressive way of