Let's hear from the other side...

I really hadn't seen much arguing for high-stakes testing before reading an article on The Press Democrat. The author, Michelle Rhee, states that tests are important tools used to assess students.  Who can disagree with that? Of course, there has to be something which evaluates progress and holds students and teachers accountable. But at what cost? I think what Michelle overlooks is the pressure being placed on teachers and students to perform well on these tests created by business-people--instead of the professionals trained to teach and evaluate our youth.

I don't think anyone who fights against high-stakes testing goal is to "dumb" down our educational system as depicted in the above cartoon. That certainly wouldn't help anyone.

Read the article. Make up your own mind. But don't overlook the comments section.
Here's the link. Article by Michelle Rhee/Photo Credit

*What high stakes tests can not measure*

Just read a very interesting blog entry by Bob Simpson. I found the section on "What high stakes tests cannot measure" to be particularly moving.
 Here's a quote- " It’s amazing how even pre-k’s and kindergartners can focus on tasks that inspire them without the intervention of high stakes testing. That kind of rigorous intensity comes from the human interaction of students and teachers in a collaborative classroom environment."
Definitely check this out-- Bob Simpson's Blog/Photo Credit

In addition to many others, he also states the importance of creativity which these tests can not possibly address or evaluate. There should be so much more to education than "rigor" and "grit," As the comic above pokes fun at, there is really no profession that would benefit from the one-sided education so many students are receiving today.

How can we help?

 
I read a blog post today on philly.com that recommends attending local school board meetings and voicing concerns. We need to stand up together for a change.

      "If we don’t do it now, we’ll all pay dearly for it later, and the cost will be much    more than just money - it will be our future and the future of our country."

Link to article and photo

If we don’t do it now, we’ll all pay dearly for it later, and the cost will be much more than just money - it will be our future and the future of our country.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Is-high-stakes-testing-bad-for-my-child.html#XljmCiP8yhVbrwvc.99

If we don’t do it now, we’ll all pay dearly for it later, and the cost will be much more than just money - it will be our future and the future of our country.
Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/Is-high-stakes-testing-bad-for-my-child.html#XljmCiP8yhVbrwvc.99

Not on the Test

Picture Credit

All students deserve to see an end to high-stakes testing!

Well, I just read this article and it was really getting my hopes up. The beginning of the end of FCAT for Florida students! However, the Florida Department of Education has hired some other testing company to continue all that was wrong with the FCAT. We need to fight for Florida and all students. They deserve a better education!

Here's the article-- http://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/04/15/letter-end-high-stakes-tests-florida-schools/7745059/

Let's teach kids to think outside of the box- Not fill in circles

Photo credit- http://parentsacrossamerica.org/part-2-high-stakes-testing-types-tests/

Brooklyn Teachers Push Back

Read this moving resolution signed by teachers of a Brooklyn school.
Brooklyn Teachers Push Back

This is my favorite part-
"When used correctly, we believe that assessment is a powerful tool. At PS 29, we constantly assess our students, collecting meaningful data that informs our day-to-day instruction. Unlike the high-stakes tests, our assessments improve the education we provide."
What other reason should there be for assessment?

When I was in elementary school, we took these national standardized tests to see how we compared with the rest of the country. And that was it. It didn't have any impact on our grades or placement for the following year. That was the teacher's job.

It has got to stop!

8 Ways to Fight High-Stakes Testing

http://fairtest.org/8-ways-to-fight-infographic

Expelling students who may not score so well...

I just read an article that summarized a couple of studies done by Arizona State College and Boston College. Something that really struck a cord with me was a statistic regarding higher occurrence of expulsions in states with high stakes testing. Could this be a way that schools are ridding themselves of those students who may drag their scores down?
An interesting read- Check it out.
http://www.fairtest.org/reports-high-stakes-testing-hurts-education

High-Stakes Testing and the Demise of Teaching

A little background...

     When I was in school, I was one of the weirdos who enjoyed testing days. I always scored well on standardized tests and loved the excuse for getting out of class. However, the scores meant nothing more to me than bragging rights (and I usually only bragged inside my head, felt proud). There was nothing riding on the outcome of the tests for me or my teachers, as far as I knew. The frequency of the tests was also no more than every couple of years.
     In 2007, I began pursuing my degree in elementary education. All I ever wanted to be was a teacher. I never even considered the option of any other career. At that point, not that I had done much research, but I only really heard of the FCATs as far as high stakes testing was concerned. I would see children on the news crying because of the pressure placed on them to do well on these tests. It made me sick. Here's a link to the letter of one concerned parent. http://www.keysnet.com/2014/03/01/494980/schools-need-to-quit-stressing.html She is begging for a change because her son who does excellent in school and usually scores well on these types of tests lost nights of sleep stressing over it. Does that sound right to you? To get back to my original point, this was one of a few reasons that I decided teaching was no longer for me. It was evident that this was the way our educational system was moving (Oh, and don't even get me started on Common Core...) and I really did not want any part of it.
     I 100% agree that some sort of evaluation needs to be in place in order to track the progress of our students but should it really be up to the test whether or not someone passes to the next grade? Teachers, the professionals, who work with these students all year long are the only ones who should be deciding that. Now, of course, there will always be minimum requirements that must be met in order to move forward but should it really be one test on one day which requires a student to fill in bubbles? School should be about learning to learn. Sure, it is important to know algebra and how to read and write, but I think the most important thing for a student to leave school with is a hunger for knowledge and a curiosity of the world. With that, the possibilities are limitless. What is more inspiring than a SELF-motivated learner, a student who seeks the answers for their own personal gain? I think that these tests and the method by which students are taught to pass these tests is killing that in so many children.
     We, as a nation, are on our way to changing this system but it is still a long way off. Changes like this do not happen overnight and do not happen without your help. Do not be a bystander. Join me and many others in the fight for a better public education system. The future of our country depends upon it.

Sign the below petition and help spread the word!
http://action.aft.org/c/44/p/salsa/web/tellafriend/public/?tell_a_friend_KEY=8685
If you forward the petition to others using the e-mail list at this link, please be sure to add the link to the page in the customizable message space. For some reason, it is not already filled in. Thanks!