I used to be a teacher.

And long before I had children of my own, I remember saying something that felt bold at the time: “I would keep my kids home during state testing.” Even then, something didn’t sit right with me. But now? I don’t just opt out of testing. We’ve stepped outside the entire system.

The Truth About State Testing

From the outside, state testing is often presented as a way to measure progress, ensure accountability, and support students.

But from the inside? It felt very different.

It felt like:

• Money grabs
• Data collection
• And time taken away from meaningful, real learning

Weeks—sometimes months—of the school year are shaped around preparing for these tests. The pressure on teachers is high. The pressure on students is higher. And yet, the results rarely reflect the full picture of a child’s ability, curiosity, or potential. Instead of supporting learning, it often interrupts it.

What Made Me Question Everything

When I left the classroom, I didn’t just walk away from a job. I began unlearning.

Unlearning the idea that:

• Children need constant evaluation to succeed
• Learning has to follow a rigid timeline
• Education must look one specific way to be “valid”

And once I saw it clearly, I couldn’t unsee it. So when it came time to make decisions for my own children, I knew I couldn’t place them back into a system that nearly broke me.

What We Chose Instead

We didn’t just walk away from testing. We chose something entirely different.

We chose:

• Regulated nervous systems over chronic stress
• Interest-led learning over forced curriculum
• Time outside, slow mornings, and meaningful connection

Because learning doesn’t only happen at a desk.

It happens:

• In conversations
• In nature
• In curiosity-driven questions
• In real-life problem solving

My children read because they want to read. They learn because it feels relevant. They question, think critically, and engage with the world around them. Not because they’re told to—but because they’re allowed to.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

Some of the most important parts of childhood can’t be measured by a standardized test.

Things like:

• Emotional regulation
• Creativity
• Confidence
• Critical thinking
• A love for learning

And yet, these are often the very things sacrificed in the name of performance and data. We don’t want our days dictated by assessments. We want them shaped by what our children actually need.

The Decisions That Changed Everything

Leaving the classroom was the first best decision I ever made. It gave me the space to see clearly. To question. To unlearn. Pulling my children out of that same system that nearly broke me as an educator (and as a student when I really sit with my experience)- That was the second.

A Gentle Reminder

This isn’t about fear. And it’s not about doing things perfectly. It’s about paying attention. If something doesn’t feel right… you’re allowed to question it.

If something doesn’t align with your family… you’re allowed to choose differently. There is more than one way to educate a child. And sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do… is step outside the system entirely.

Curious about homeschooling or unschooling? Follow me on Instagram @alisha-wendell