Back To Home Page To Archives - Spring of Life - H. Roger Bothwell Test Anxiety I attended a state Department of Education meeting yesterday pertaining to assessment. Assessment is a bigger word than tests. It means the same thing and sounds more sophisticated to say I went to an assessment seminar instead of a meeting about tests. We specifically discussed the use of a standardized test for people wanting to become teachers. Just what standards must they meet to first qualify to get into a teacher training program and secondly what standards must they meet to graduate and receive state certification was the theme. There were as many divergent views as there were people present. One thing did seem become evident - educators are as fearful of tests as are students. We are afraid the inadequacies we manage to artfully hide will be revealed for all the world to see. We all want high standards and genuinely want to be able to hold them up for our selves and our students but we are not comfortable knowing the results of such testing or I guess I should say assessment will end up in the newspapers for all to see. Proponents of change will be able to utilize the results to their own political ends. Many Christians I know approach the Biblical judgment with the same type of apprehension. They are fearful their inadequate moral characters will be open books for the ridicule of angels and even worse friends and neighbors who make the grade and get to go to heaven. Well I have the solution for all this test anxiety or assessment stress. His name is Jesus. You see the Bible very clearly promises us that if we so choose Jesus, who has a perfect score on His test, is more than willing to put His test results on our papers. Really. I know it sounds like cheating but it is legitimate. God has made this arrangement because it is the only way any one can be saved and God who is so full of mercy and grace and love for us longs to have us home with Him. I'm Roger Bothwell and my address is hrb1@tiac.net or 151 Old Farm Rd. Leominster, MA 01453. Thank you for your support of our faith ministry. Past devotionals can be accessed at Archives