The U.S. Department of Education on its official blog asked
for help and advice in evaluating state testing systems aligned
with the Common Core. Forget the fact that the U.S. Department of
Education is barred by law from doing anything to control or direct
curriculum and instruction. How about offering your help?
Here is a suggestion posted as a comment:
“First of all let’s address the
standards you are referring to (Common Core). These standards are
ridiculous in every sense of the word! You want 6 year olds to know
what ziggurats are and a kindergartener to know what molecules are
(look at NY ELA modules)? They are developmentally inappropriate!
They are learning their name and the names of their classmates. Be
realistic. “Secondly, we are testing too much! My kids sit through
hours and hours of useless testing. Assessments are important when
they can inform the teacher on a student’s growth. Tell me how
standardized tests do this? They don’t ….the results come out 5
months after the test. They give a score, but nothing else.
Teachers can’t see the tests, so how can they see what Junior
answered? How was Junior confused? Then, there is the expectation
that a 4 year old can sit in front of a computer to take a test.
This is child abuse! It is child abuse for a 3rd grader to sit
through hours of testing. And it is in poor judgement that a
special needs student be tortured with these as well. “All of this
has resulted in kids hating school. If all they are ever told is
they are a failure, then why would we wonder why they drop out of
school? Kids need choices. Maybe they aren’t cut out to be a rocket
scientist, but would make a great carpenter. Let’s foster that
talent and stop thinking “one size fits all”. “Why do states have
to have testing? To compare with other states? To compare with the
rest of the world? How much does this testing cost? Lots! Why don’t
we take that money, put it into programs that foster economic
growth, like art and music? Offer children after school activities
that are inspiring, like music, dance, art, sports. You know,
things that are fun, but foster student worth. “We are not moving
in the right direction with education “reform”. It is causing more
problems. If you want to improve education so the US compares to
other countries, like Finland, then take a good hard look at how
they do it! We will not get the same results by trying to implement
the opposite ideas! Stop demoralizing teachers and students! You
are getting nowhere on that stationary bike!”
“You are getting nowhere on that stationary bike!”
‘Best comment I have heard recently.
Let’s stop the misery “reform” has wrought.
I hope the U.S. Department of Education takes to heart every word in the above comment.
Help the US (or NYC, or NYS) Department of Education?
As the good people of Appalachia might say, I wouldn’t p—- on them if their hearts were on fire.
Good one Michael. Their hearts are on fire, in hopes of making even more money for their friendly donors. Ask great teachers to smooth the bumps out for them, and the products they are hawking get that much better. More profits=larger (potential) campaign contributions down the line.
Next maybe the Department of the Interior will send out a request asking for help and advice on evaluating Mountain Top Removal inspections and permits.
I’ll volunteer…as a parent in FL, as well as an educator with 16 years…
Could it be they sense the impending disaster?
“. . . them, and the horse they rode in on.”
Of course, they don’t let you see many of the tests.
Put a moratorium on testing for at least three years. Allow educators to implement, refine, and evaluate the standards. Use the money earmarked for testing to bring back programs, especially programs that aide the most disadvantaged students.
Excellent idea!
I think if the Dept of Ed is asking for teacher input, they see that “the sky is falling” and do not want to be blamed for it. If teachers “give their input” and the DOE “appears” to listen.. than they can BLAME TEACHERS even more so than already. It has gotten to a point in our national education agenda, that I do not trust ANYTHING coming out of the Dept of Ed. When Duncan is dumped and someone with actual public school education is put into the position, I WILL THEN LISTEN AND WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO CONTRIBUTE THOUGHTS AND IDEAS. Pardon me if I am skeptical at this time. But then why wouldn’t I be???
Anyone in my district who voices even a cautionary word is immediately labeled as part of the problem. Trust is not possible in such a climate.
Politics, ego, and corporate greed aside – I find the fundamental nature of CCSS testing and APPR being one of complete and utter distrust of teachers as professionals. And all because administrators looked the other way on a few bad apples. My evidence binder is full of kitty litter and my bird cage is lined with Marzano rubrics.
The sad truth is that the APPR evaluation system doesn’t begin to address the main concerns of students when it comes to “bad teachers” (i.e content knowledge; clarity of instruction; meaningful, high quality activities; pace of instruction; subjective grading; organization and efficiency; etc)
“Kids need choices. Maybe they aren’t cut out to be a rocket
scientist, but would make a great carpenter. Let’s foster that
talent and stop thinking “one size fits all”. ”
Completely agree! This is both the problem and the solution. We need multi-tiered programs and assessments which allow students to choose paths (college for some, trades for others) and appropriate diplomas. In earlier grades, assessments need to be chosen and utilized–from the standpoints of both teacher and student evaluation–with the recognition that students are not highly-talented in all areas of thinking. One size fits all is beyond ridiculous; it’s cruel and obscene.
Of course the government wants “help” in evaluating states’ testing systems aligned to the Common Core. Government officials are perfectly happy that many people, among those who are at least aware of Common Core, believe it to be a states led initiative.
What if 25,000 BATs signed up to “help?”