Bonnie Cunard Margolin is a blogger and parent activist in Florida. Her daughter did not take the state and local tests, and her mom is very proud of her.
Margolin writes:
This year, I have opted my 6th grade daughter out of all district and state testing. So, yesterday and today, while her classmates were taking the district test/ practice FSA writing assessment, she wrote an essay, on her own, instead. Here it is.
Julianne M. Cunard
ELA 6 ADV
18 September 2015
Testing: I Can Do the Math.
Learning is not just about taking a test. It is about understanding a lesson, not about sitting at a desk for hours, failing as you go. If you wanted to educate children, why is there an FSA, FCAT, FAIR, PARCC, LSAT, MCAT? What do all of these words mean to you? Is standardized testing effective in education? I can tell you what tests mean to me.
Testing is something I refuse to be a part of, even teachers don’t like these tests. From the article, “Putting it to the Test”, the author writes, “In September, Susan Bowles, a kindergarten teacher at Chiles Elementary School, received widespread buzz when she openly refused to administer the computer-based Florida Assessments for Instruction in reading, or FAIR.” Teachers are forced to read the script, exactly as written, scared of losing their jobs if not. There should not have to be a time in school where anyone feels extremely worried. At school, students should feel relieved and secure. Yet then, these tests come along.
If I walked into a room and saw everyone taking a district\state test, I would not be happy because the students are not learning anything. The author writes, “Teaching is an art. It is about connection. It is not about getting ready for a test that is designed 70 percent to fail. Our best teachers are leaving because they are being forced to do things in the classroom that they know is not for OUR KIDS! They are leaving for OUR KIDS!” That statement right there tells me that teachers have had enough. This is a good reason why testing is not good for education.
Teachers shouldn’t have to quit because they are forced to do something, it is their life, their class. Oh, but no… that teacher can’t talk about it. It’s all so “secret” because nobody knows how to opt out, except for the kids that know. They know how to opt out. They know they won’t fail their grade because of a test. They know they will sit there for an hour, sitting and doing nothing, everyone looking at them. They know they will get an NR2. Other kids don’t. They don’t know what an NR2 means. They DON’T know, they don’t… but they should. The one thing everyone knows in that classroom is that these district\state tests are unnecessary and ineffective.
Let’s see how the leaders would like it if we gave THEM a standardized test. Are you shocked that I said that? Well, nobody realizes how bad these tests are. One person says they are fine, but someone else will say not to take it. What do they do? This is way too much pressure for children… WAY too much. THEY ARE KIDS, TESTING FROM THIRD GRADE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. Innocent children testing every day. What did they ever do to you?
Some think that testing is not a big deal. It isn’t but when it’s every day, like standardized testing is, I believe that it is an outrage. From the article,”Mom- Why My Kids Won’t Be Taking the New Florida Standards Assessment Test”, the author writes, “They have to be quiet, have alternate scheduling, sit in a single classroom and learn NOTHING during “testing season” because others are testing. This is time they’ll never get back in their education.” The author is correct. What about the kids?
What if everyone wants to opt out, they know, but can’t because the leaders are telling them not to. The kids shouldn’t be punished for other’s repetitive mistakes.
There were seven hours of FSA testing that I did NOT do last year. Others did. Don’t you feel bad for the children, wasting all of that time? Yes, it’s a waste of time. I should know, I did the math, and I don’t need a test to prove it.
#ThisMomGivesHerAnA+
Brilliantly written essay-hope it’s seen by the people for whom it’s intended.
Diane, this student is the poster child for how bad our schools have become. Every parent, teacher and politician should read this essay and then pray we can salvage our schools.
I read a thoughtful, intelligent, contextually annotated essay by a sixth grader who put many high paid, slight of slant marketers and lobbyists to shame, a child of whom any parent would be extremely proud. What did you read, Virginia Poisonous Snake? Not the same essay. And I’m sooo sorry to poke fun at your choice of username, but this time, you’re biting a child. I had to play Rikki-Tikki-Tavi to your Nag.
LeftCoastTeacher: from someone who proclaims his undying [unrequited?] love for a shameless bully like Michelle Rhee—
It says volumes about his judgment in running (or helping to run—forget all those other people like Michelle Rhee “forgot” her pesky co-teacher when she took “her” students from the 13th to the 90th percentile) a nuclear submarine when he can’t hold back from using the sneer, jeer and smear against a sixth grader. *Calling Homeland Security!*
Yes, and let’s not forget to show contempt for those very small and young children that have to use vomit bags when being subjected to that hazing ritual he loves so much aka high-stakes standardized tests.
Rigor. Grit. Throw up. Submit to your superiors.
Because, ya know, this ain’t the Good Ship Lollipop but the USS [United States of Servility] SGP.
Now just run that up your flagpole and salute it!
😎
KrazyTA, now let’s make sure you are clear. Should VAMs not be used because kids laugh at the tests and don’t take them seriously or because they are so stressed out by their teachers telling him how important the tests are for teacher ratings that they supposedly vomit?
Or do you just use the latter today and the former tomorrow? Do all of your students know you are a hypocrite?
A little harsh.
Flerp is right. A little harsh. I feel I’ve been swept up in the web of a huge, corporate, consumer data collection and marketing scam, and embittered, I fear I am becoming as cold as a no excuses charter school operator. I need to stop fighting fire with fire before I burn myself. There is a better way, Gandhi’s way. I do not regret being very impressed with this child’s essay, but regret calling you a snake, Virginiasgp.
I was referring to VSP’s comment, not yours.
Virginia – VAM should not be used because the equation is mathematically invalid, the tests are invalid, and the entire concept is ridiculous. As far as the child, she is mine, and I can assure you, no teacher in her school is putting this stress on her. She knows the counter arguments to high stakes testing because she has been accompanying her mother to rallies, school board meetings, delegate assemblies, and opt out conferences for years. See … her mother, that is me, isn’t just a mom and activist. I am a 25 plus year public school teacher in the state of Florida. This current state of testing in the US must stop. The Race to the Top and NCLB are my daughter’s personal Hunger Games and she’d be the first to say, the odds are never in her favor. We have successfully advocated for more arts in our local schools. When my daughter sees bubbles on a scantron, she turns it sideways and plays a beautiful song on her violin. Arts not tests. The learning is natural.
GatorBonBC, you have no idea what you are talking about. Even if the data was invalid (it is reliable and better than any other current evaluation method), you are not in a position to make that assessment. As to your daughter’s letter, I make no criticism of her directly as I’m sure you have instilled these erroneous notions in her head for year. Speaking of which, I find it odd that a 6th grader (child of a teacher) has been “protesting” for “years”.
You claim your child is bright but yet the standardized tests are “Hunger Games”. Are you serious? There are absolutely no consequences for your daughter if she fails the test. Maybe some ineffective teachers have consequences but VAMs cannot be used to penalize students when there are no negative consequences.
I’m sure your daughter will not have a lucrative career pursuing the arts. I’m not saying that arts are not important but how much will the 25th best singer in her national class earn? How much will the 2500th best doctor or engineer or lawyer earn? Will your daughter be able to write a fact-based, supportable essay based on her training in the arts? Will she be able to pursue a STEM degree with her arts experience? We cannot ignore reading, writing and math. That’s all Common Core is based on. VAMs measure effectiveness on those core subjects.
You can exploit your daughter to get attention all your want. When her essays are filled with false statements (“innocent children testing every day”) and non-sequiturs (“what did they ever do to you?”), it is you who look foolish. Why don’t we leave the child props out of this? I realize not everyone on my side does, but it doesn’t make you heroic to stand behind your child to get attention.
Wasn’t sure. Still, I think I can leave, not only the berating of sixth grade children, but the childish name calling to the charteers and the datamongers.
Virginia – Pretty sure I know what I am talking about and pretty sure I have known long enough to know the difference between sharing opinions and berating for the sake of berating. I engage in the first, often, and I am proud of my daughters for doing the same. As for the berating – No response to your commentary needed. I am pretty sure each person who reads it will judge for themselves. I have faith in the teachers, parents, and students in the US. I certainly have faith in my daughter. Have a happy holiday. #Peace
Thank you, Diane, I am very proud of my daughter and her choice to speak up about the amount of time wasted on district and state tests. She has been rallying in opposition for years. I am thankful for the progress we have made but there is still much to do. Thanks for all you do to support parents, teachers, and students !
Reblogged this on Welcome to the Testing Games and commented:
My kid made Ravitch’s blog. Opting Out Out Loud! #SpeakUp
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.