I feel like a broken record going on about standardized testing, the failure of multiple choice assessments as a measure of learning and the whole funding mess of education that is ripping at the fabric of the country. Stupid, stupid, stupid.  And so I am happy to read reports that back up the assertion that we need to end the sheep-mentality and actually inject substance into the whole learning process. And so obviously cutting school funding, slashing extra curricular activities and turning learning into an extension of the prison system will not work. Unless that is the overall plan!  I am amused that it takes multi-million dollar studies to determine what common sense could have told you for free, but I guess, in America, we have to keep everyone employed even if their job function is redundant. It is time to stop making education a reward only concept that pampers the weak and allows the manipulative and the greedy to circumvent the rest. The needs of the many outweigh the special interest needs of the few and the concept of mainstreaming all kids is stupid, stupid, stupid.  It is high time that people stand up and demand sanity in the structure of their children's education and not simply feeling guilty for criticizing the few that need to have the supports that slow the rest down. No offense intended, but special needs kids need special attention and that cannot be simply dumping them into a regular class with an aide. Likewise, English learners need to be in a school with English learners and a bilingual teacher whose only job function is to elevate the language skills so that they can be integrated. The politically correct immersion philosophy is stupid, stupid, stupid. But it helps the data gathering careers of the NCLB world that live and die by statistics, regardless of accuracy. But since we have standardized testing in place, and since it is easier to leave things in place than change them, I am betting that despite the growing evidence to the contrary, we will continue to be stupid, stupid, stupid. Click HERE to read the article and then feel free to rant, rant, rant! MisterWriter |
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Duh - “But if we only look at standardized test scores, we’re only considering part of the equation for success as an adult in a global marketplace." What a concept in this stupid, stupid, stupid world.
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4 comments:
Writing such as this is why I read your blog! I've ranted too. Stupid, stupid, stupid!!! I see so many stupid people in this world. How did they ever get so far in life? I wish it weren't so.
Mister, you are a broken record. A ranting radio host.
I guess you have the power to make a noise, but that is all. Go ahead, howl at the moon. It will change nothing.
MisterWriter,
As a mom of four and a teacher, I strongly applaud you! Personally, I think the STAR tests are some of the biggest wastes of time out there. I plan on signing my three oldest kids out of school the week the STAR tests are given. Not many parents understand that the tests are not mandatory.
Anonymous APRIL 16, 2009 7:36 AM - thanks for a comment offering nothing more than the very noise you claim I make.
Anonymous APRIL 16, 2009 8:20 AM -
You are right about pulling kids out - it does hurt the district's scoring which is also tied into AYP which is tied into whether the state can take over the school if it sustains three years of failed AYPs but I do think that it is one of the few ways to make an impact if enough parents opt out of the STAR assessments. However, the amount of effort to coordinate that - it seems far easier to just get parents to sign a petition rejecting the STAR as a valid assessment.
Unfortunately, the last ANON is right - it will change nothing. Education is a closed state system run by the politics that govern financing of education. These POLITATS always have grandiose ideas based on political activism to their benefit, which is why you always see something new come along every five to ten years that claims to fix the problems caused by the last bright idea.
Parents need to claim their child's right to a political free education system. As the recent elections and causes within this district has shown, rousing parents to a cause is no easy task.
As for your children, if you pull them out, do conduct a home assessment of their skills. You can download the standards for the grade level and there are many non-multiple choice assessments available for free on line that will show your child's ability to problem solve as well as content knowledge. If you find that they lack in both, you might check out home schooling or private schooling options. Remember, the STAR TEST is a symptom and not a cause.
Thanks for the postings.
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