GPA, letters of rec, honors, and personal essays are all subject to the inherent privilege richer students and students in stable households have. Got to do something cool over the summer because your parents can afford to give you that luxury? Teacher writes you a letter of rec because they connect with you more. Have a stable household? GPA goes up and you take honors classes because your focus is uninterrupted.
I was the kid who every year when asked what they did for summer said "nothing". I was the kid who missed homework assignments because of yet another argument or separation between parents at home last night where I played peacemaker. On my personal essays I had to lie and make up experiences I had never had because we simply did not have the money for a vacation or takeout.
GPAs, letters of rec, honors only prove that a student has a safe and secure environment and they are able to excel over a long term. That is a reflection of privilege.
For those of us who grew up in poor and broken households, standardized testing is the only chance for us to get a better life. Everyone who speaks out against it does so from a position of privilege because they have 0 idea what it's like to grow up in that type of environment.
I was the kid who every year when asked what they did for summer said "nothing". I was the kid who missed homework assignments because of yet another argument or separation between parents at home last night where I played peacemaker. On my personal essays I had to lie and make up experiences I had never had because we simply did not have the money for a vacation or takeout.
GPAs, letters of rec, honors only prove that a student has a safe and secure environment and they are able to excel over a long term. That is a reflection of privilege.
For those of us who grew up in poor and broken households, standardized testing is the only chance for us to get a better life. Everyone who speaks out against it does so from a position of privilege because they have 0 idea what it's like to grow up in that type of environment.