A retired teacher is happy that parents are opting their children out of state testing
She writes:
“I am a former elementary art teacher and I am thrilled parents are taking matters into their own hands. The testing culture is madness. I had to sit in too many staff meetings, and watch as the administrators devote all professional development time to students passing the standardized tests. It did not matter that students did not take tests in art, the specialists still had to sit there and listen for hours about how to teach to the test. All resources were put toward classroom teachers teaching to the test. All professional development days were used for classroom teachers teaching to the test. The specialists were told to find something to do on those days. I thought to myself, we as educators need to just say no. I am glad someone finally is saying no!”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It could be worse, you could be an arts teacher forced to sit through all the math and ela propaganda and then told that 40% of your evaluation is based on it.
Teaching to the student. Brilliant!
This says more about the ability of this teacher to effectively influence those putting on PD sessions than anything else.
Easily said, not done for fear of retaliation by administrators, and lack of union support as they take money from the Gates Foundation.
Joseph:
She indicated she already was given license to do something different when she writes: “The specialists were told to find something to do on those days.”
You seem to believe that all Principals and Administrators are dumb sheep with no clue as to how to engage with their teachers. I am sure some are, but it is bizarre to make such a generalization.
I think those of us who have worked in schools for years and years know more about the quality of our administrators than you, Bernie.
Aren’t you also making a generalization?
Linda:
You certainly know about the school administrations where you taught. The question is about school leadership and administrations in general, ergo one has to make a generalization in one form or another. I was not questioning the fact that Joseph made a generalization but the negative nature of the generalization.
So Linda, what is your view of School Principals and District Administrations in general? Do you share Joseph’s cynical view of school leadership?
A smaller percentage, maybe 35% -40% tops are effective, from my many years in public schools and from those of my teacher colleagues/friends.
Many want power and control. That’s been my experience.
How have your experiences informed you?
Linda:
Interesting. In my experience with professional organizations, the percentage of effective managers is about the same or a little lower than the percentage of effective individual contributors from whence the managers are selected.
Not mine…ineffective teachers less than 10%.
Many leave and some become administrators. They didn’t really like kids or having to face them everyday, but they like power and control.
Those who can teach; those who can’t administrate.
Educators know…others speculate. Interesting indeed.
It will take EVERY teacher and administrator doing this, and parent support for this is crucial as well, but if EVERYONE joins in, we can succeed!
and watch as the administrators devote all professional development time to students passing the standardized tests
This teacher is spot on. This is precisely what is happening, all across the country. Test prep trainings. Sit up. Roll over. Here’s your evaluation. Good boy.
And now for the bad news.
At least in GA there are now standardized test in every subject, including art.
To the point of your post, I completely agree, I am very glad parents are opting out aof testing nd thrilled more teachers are finding the courage to speak out against the inappropriate , excessive use of testing, too.
Well, first of all, congratulations for making it to retirement. Here in Palm Beach County, FL, our School District has eliminated teacher steps many years ago, so that if you are a teacher with 12 or 13 years experience, you are still close to earning a beginning teacher salary. The plan seems to be to let the experienced teachers retire, replace them with new teachers that will stay at or near a beginning teacher salary for their entire 30-year career. Of course, these teachers will never accrue enough money for a decent pension, which, in our state, is subject to an additional 3% tax by our state legislature for being a public servant. In addition, newly-hired teachers are on an annual contract for their entire careers. Currently, they can be dismissed after their annual contract expires for any reason. Our teaching profession has been devalued and de-professionalized, making one wonder why anyone would want to enter the teaching profession in Florida (or have their children enter it).
As far as testing goes, at my school we just completed two-weeks of diagnostic testing, which was a mixture of paper and pencil bubble tests and computerized testing. We will have another two weeks of diagnostic testing in the winter, and then two weeks for FCAT testing. That’s six weeks devoted to testing rather than teaching. We have a “testing” period and generally all other periods are shortened to 35 minutes (this is in middle school) although classes that are taking place that are not testing during the testing period (the schedule varies by grade) have a longer period in which teaching can take place while testing is going on, and this period is rotated. If it sounds complicated and convoluted, it is.
We had one day in which the entire Internet for the school district was down, and testing had to be canceled and rescheduled. In addition to the six weeks of testing, there is other testing that will be done, including FAIR testing, End of Course exam testing, etc. etc. Testing has become all important.
I will keep your comments in mind the next time I hear a leading charterite/privatizer complain that public schools are “failing” because they refuse to “engage” their students in genuine learning, instead opting for cookie-cutter activities characterized by drill-and-kill ‘instruction.’
And just where does the responsibility for all this lie? Why of course with teachers and union bosses—you do know that they run public schools.
Maybe you didn’t get the latest email memo, what with the system being down and all…
🙂
I never let school get in the way of my education-Mark Twain
For the motivated and the inquisitive a teacher is irrelevant-Aristotle
An elementary art teacher who doesn’t like testing. Now isn’t that special! Everyone is a busybody and an expert; this blog isn’t the holy grail and Ravitch sure had to jump through some hoops to get her “credential’ as an “expert”. She might even have a driver’s license which she had to take a test to get.
How about just two tests-a placement test in primary school and a competency test at the end of secondary school? Either that or just give out diplomas based on what they kids want.
This is Dr. Ravitch’s living room. Don’t insult her, and don’t insult all of the hard working educators out there. Standardized testing for WEEKS at a time is NOT akin to a 25 or 50 question driver’s license test.
This is according to Ms. Ravitch a place to debate education issues-if you can’t stand the heat get outta the kitchen!
Louisiana Purchase: I share your sentiments but we need to be reminded—even on this blog—of what we’re up against. Besides the edufrauds and edubullies wound themselves the most when they freely speak their minds:
“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” [Abraham Lincoln]
Please understand: I didn’t say we need to be reminded often—once or twice a year would be fine with me.
🙂
True, KTA. But I agree. It doesn’t have to be this often. Diane is REMARKABLY patient of this dreck. I would have kicked several of these people off by now.
Louisiana Purchase, I let people say whatever they want as long as they are not abusive. If they are abusive, I will kick them off. The rule here is civility.
I opt to skip many of the comments that you deem dreck. You should do the same. As a tribute to free speech.
KTA,
Yes, the edufrauds, creepers, bullies, trolls and all their friends do wound themselves every time they forget to use the coded language trick.
However, your patience continues to impress me.
May your halcyon days continue, my friend.
JB:
Civility, please. It costs little and it will probably increase the likelihood that your point of view will be read.
Heya Bernie-I’ve read Ravitch’s stuff-her latest is on hold at the library. Obviously my stuff got some attention-you don’t like that I don’t bow and scrap-I don’t grovel-I don’t like all the testing either-I think we should have but two or three-Like they do in Germany, Japan-or even that edutopia known as Finland tracks their students-in those countries education is not a religio/industry with high priests and know it alls.
Join the Opt Out Movement today…or start your own chapter in your school/district/town.
Just say no and here’s how you can develop the antidote and reclaim your profession. http://savingstudents-caplee.blogspot.com/ Teach to the child and then do pre and post small, one on one tests and show real gains. This will destroy the artificial standardized argument while giving you accountability on an even playing field. Go to http://www.wholechildreform.com if you want me to help.
Dr. Ravitch, I saw you speak in the Chicago area recently, and I did not get a chance to ask this question (that has to do with the blog topic): We live in a small district that has a progressive-minded superintendent and board, that has grudgingly accepted that it must go along with Common Core and the testing that comes with it or be labeled a “non-public” school district by the state if it forgoes federal funding. I would be happy to pull my children from standardized testing and urge others to do the same, but even a handful of us doing that could have negative consequences at the district level in what is otherwise a very good district. Their hands are tied. What should one do in this situation?
Kate, consult with United Opt Out. Peggy Robertson knows the laws for each state. Do what you can and what you must, within the law.
I’m reading this post and saying , “yes!” I am art teacher working for a CMO, and am required to test my children in art. I requested to opt out and was told no because they are raising “accountability.”