While the schools in Pennsylvania are closed, Steven Singer self-quarantined, took some time to reflect on his students, his schools, and where we go when life resumes.
He wrote:
I’m…filled with a deep sense of gratitude that I’m a public school teacher.
My last class was a rough one – 7th graders running around the room with half written poetry demanding instruction, guidance, reassurance. My morning 8th graders were likewise rushing to complete a poetry assignment – frantically asking for help interpreting Auden, Calvert, Henley, Poe, Thomas.
What a privilege it has been to be there for them! How much I will miss that over the few next weeks!
Who would ever have thought we’d go into self quarantine to stop people from getting infected?
It says something about us that what seemed impossible just a few days ago has become a reality. We actually saw a problem and took logical steps to avoid it!
I know – we could have done a better job. We could have acted more quickly and in many areas we haven’t done nearly enough (New York, I’m looking at you).
But what we have done already shows that human beings aren’t finished. We have massive problems waiting to be solved – global climate change, social and racial inequality, the corrupting influence of money in politics, etc. However, we CAN do the logical thing and solve these problems!
No matter how crazy it seems now, tomorrow could be filled with rational solutions. If only we allow ourselves that chance.
So my spirits are high here in my little hollow nestled in with my family.
But being a teacher I can’t help thinking about what’s to come next.
Eventually this whole ordeal will be over.
Schools will reopen. Things will get back to normal. Or try to, anyway.
The challenge will be attempting to overcome the month or more of lost schooling…
I anticipate being back in school by mid April or so. That would leave about a month and a half left in the year.
This really leaves us with only two options: (1) hold our end of the year standardized tests and then fit in whatever else we can, or (2) forgo the tests and teach the curriculum.
If we have the tests, we could hold them shortly after school is back in session. That at least would give us more time to teach, but it would reduce the quality of the test scores. Kids wouldn’t be as prepared and the results would be used to further dismantle the public school network.
Much better I think is option two: skip the tests altogether.
Frankly, we don’t need them. Teachers observe students every day. We give formal and informal assessments every time we see our kids. We’re like scientists engaged in a long-term study taking daily measurements and meticulously recording them before coming to our year end conclusions called classroom grades.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
AMEN. Thanks, Steve Singer. So TRUE … Teachers KNOW their students better than any test. We interact with students all the time.
Thank you, Diane, for posting this.
Use that money for better things other than those horrid, invalid tests … like books, science equipment, math manipulative, and writing implements. TEACHERS know what they need.
Will we back to normal in April? Or will the virus be going into high gear with no end in sight, as in Italy? I hope not. How long can a society be in lock down with social distancing and a major disruption of normal every day routines. People still have to shop for necessities and Rx drugs, thus exposing themselves to the wider population. Police, firefighters, first aid squads, doctors and nurses have no choice but to do their jobs and at high risk of being exposed to the virus.
Timeline: How the new coronavirus spread:
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/timeline-china-coronavirus-spread-200126061554884.html
The streets are mostly empty here … thank goodness.
I end with: “Trump is America’s National SECURITY THREAT.”
Providers of ready-to-use online curriculum materials are offering these “free” until June.
These freebies are also bait for continuing use after schools reopen, and current recommendations are for an eight-week shut down. States and districts are also managing to find funds for iPads and in some cases, internet services.
Forget the tests. States can officially request a waiver from ESSA tests. But that would only be for the rest of this school year, unless this monster is still on the steep upward curve.
Best idea I have heard today.
Put Trump in quarantine, a lockdown, until this is over, and that includes taking away his ability to Tweet and use other social media. That would help cut the flow of misinformation, prevent snap judgments, and grandstanding about his perfect judgment.
Also, check in on the website of Mercedes Schneider who invited a Teacher of the Year to write a post for high school seniors who will miss all end-of-year celebrations. He missed his celebrations a decade ago because Katrina wiped out everything. He ends on a wonderfully upbeat encouraging note.
Many years ago there were few standardized tests. When tests were administered, the results were considered a litmus test for parents to understand how their children were performing compared to the norm. There were no high stakes attached to any of the results. Even then, the tests were not helpful to teachers in planning for instruction. Teachers know how to do this through various formative assessments. Our testing obsession is currently undermining the quality of work that teachers do on a daily basis. High stakes tests are being misused against students, teachers and schools. This misleading policy must change for the benefit of all public schools.
key words: MISUSED AGAINST…
[it would] …”reduce the quality of the test scores.”
How? Is this possible? can a product have negative value?
This is in no way intended to disparage the sanctity of Stephen Singer’s vocational commitment to teaching. But what if we added to his suggestion re: the administration of this year’s large scale assessments an additional option… don’t “teach” the curriculum as defined by the standards…. don’t use the time to do more “schooling”. What would happen if, instead, we used the time to focus on what kids have learned and are learning from the experience and the events that that have unfolded around them? What if we used the time to help kids not only learn how to learn but also to learn how to be? What if we used the time to explore for ourselves what the purpose of school should now be? Should it be the same as that defined by the Gang of Ten in the 1890’s?
I second this. Times ten.
This one is a no brainer. Skip the test. It’s meaningless for children and teachers if for no other reason, the information gets back to teachers way to late for planning. Of course they are just a snap shot in time therefore should never be used to judge kids.
However, this is an opportunity for teachers to show what they’re made of. The number one issue is the equal treatment of all. And the test doesn’t do it. Now is your chance.
To quote Deborah Meier in her introduction to my book: “As educators …we are being judged on our ability to accomplish the very different task of providing a ruling class education for all students while still trapped in the same antiquated system”
Now is your chance to gather together with colleagues and devise a plan to replace the test while changing the system from the classroom up. Put on your trench coat, tip your fedora over one eye and subvert the system to save the children!
When you get back, administration won’t know what to do. Time for teachers to kick ass for the kids. Don’t wait for the politicians, they will never do it..
there is ZERO statistical validity in giving any of the state’s kids a “standardized” test when the standardizing principle itself has been so openly compromised
There is little value to a test that allows politicians to tweak the proficiency mark to accommodate a political agenda anyway.
I read on a WA school district site that WA State is cancelling all standardized tests for 2019-20 school year. That district was closing until April 24 at least.