Too much pressure

This week Emily has Terra Nova testing at school. For those who don't know what that is, it is a standardized test used to measure a child's skill level. Well, I think they put too much pressure on kids over these tests. First of all it's not like they won't get into college if they miss a test or don't do well on them.It is a tool used to help students. To find out if and where they might be having problems. This morning Emily had an eye appointment so she missed one portion of the test. Which by the way she can and will make up next week. When I took her back to school she wasn't allowed to join her class until lunch. Emily was devastated that she missed her test. She just kept saying"I told you I wasn't supposed to miss the test. I just want to go home". She was upset enough that the school counselor came to talk to her about retaking the portion of the test she missed. I told her that her eye sight is more important than a test. But not to her it wasn't I think they(the teachers,administrators) need a better way of delivering the importance of these kinds of tests are to the students. I'm not saying these tests are not important. I think they are a valuable tool to parents and teachers. I don't think however kids need to stress over them. Emily was under the impression that she was in trouble for missing the test. She thought her teacher would be mad at her for missing the test. She was stressed out about the whole thing. She cried for about 30 minutes.I felt bad for her. So I hope that she will learn form this experience and that missing a test is not the end of her world. And a side note, Emily will be getting glasses.That's a whole other ball of wax.