Guest AuthorI am more than a number.
That’s the mantra I keep repeating to myself as I talk to Thomas, a bright young man who sounds like a twenty-something, about my struggles with stress, exercise and time management.
You see my health care provider through the school district has targeted me for three heart health-coaching sessions. I “flunked” three of my health screening biometrics. My cholesterol is too high (I failed by one point), my fasting blood sugar indicates I could be pre-diabetic and my BMI is overweight. I did pass the blood pressure screening and my LDL cholesterol is within a normal range.
The consequence of missing one of my three phone appointments is a $50 per month surcharge. Technically I am not being fined, rather I miss out on my health rewards, but the results are the same.
I remember 20 years ago when teachers got their care completely free and could put their husband and children on the plan for only $200. The changes have happened gradually, almost imperceptibly, over the years.
For a number of years we have had to self identify as tobacco users and pay $50 a month extra (excuse me, fail to get the health reward) if we admitted to using. We have a $100 deductible for prescription medicine that we pay the first time we visit the pharmacy every year. We have a $300 deductible for office visit copays. I have not checked on family coverage but it has to be much more than $200.
The next step was biometric screenings. First we only had to get them checked. If we forgot or failed to do them properly, we missed out on a health reward of $50 per month. We also have to fill out a questionnaire that includes numerous personal questions such as how fast we drive, whether we have allergies or asthma, and how much we exercise every week. The latest twist is that if we fail two or more of the five categories (BMI, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure) we have to have three coaching sessions before July 31 or face paying an extra $50 per month.
Which leaves me wondering, what will be the next step? Will we have to show improvement or face extra payments? Studies have shown a strong genetic component in all of these areas. I have been blessed with ancestors who had low blood pressure. I know for sure that my mother and maternal grandfather had pressure readings around 100/60 similar to what I have. My dad’s pressure is also low. In recent years, his pressure has been creeping up into the normal range but he is also approaching 90 years old.
I have had the same BMI since I finished growing in my early 20s. It actually falls between that of my father and mother, which makes sense. I also fall between my two sisters, but we all have to watch our food intake. Studies have shown that people are unlikely to fall below the BMI they had in their 20s, no matter how much they diet and starve themselves.
I have noticed my cholesterol varies widely between 180 and 220. I don’t take the reading often enough to be able to establish a pattern. Again, there’s a strong genetic effect. Plus I don’t think there’s a firm cause-effect connection with cholesterol level. Our bodies manufacture it from the food we eat, and eating food low in cholesterol does not automatically lower it. Many people take statins to lower it artificially but the latest information suggests that there are side effects worse than any benefits. Here is a case of someone following the latest medical trends could actually do more harm than good to themselves.
I can see my issues with my biometric screenings as a metaphor for our students and the standardized test scores. We know that family income is the greatest predictor of how well students will do on the SAT, which is something they have no control over. Poverty is a strong predictor of student test scores but it is not included in the Value Added Model (teacher evaluation score).
I know students who have failed the reading or math by one point, e.g. 234 instead of 235. Many of them were special needs or English language learners, but there was no option except for remedial classes and a retake the following year. Many of those students are still blocked from continuing their education after high school.
My hope is that in the near future at the local, state, and federal level, administrators and lawmakers will realize students cannot be reduced to a number, and that the qualitative measurements, e.g. grade-point average, awards, community service, participation in clubs and organizations, are a much better predictor of future success than a mere number on a test.
Catherine Shore Martinez is a National Board Certified teacher at Pahokee Middle Senior High School in Palm Beach County. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
