I catch myself singing a little Beatles every now and then... In particular these first few lines: You say you want a Revolution, Well, you know, We all want to change the world... The song sending the message that was "anti-Revolution" ... So picture it: Testing the revolution, someone's revolution, to Change Education (in the form of the lovely No Child Left Behind).
Check out what teachers in Canada are doing... (Thanks Ms. Flecha for posting a link to the blog you found this on) I was just contemplating a boycott on testing tonight with another teacher (one of those "what if" scenarios... anything to find a way out of the testing hell we teach in these days)... when I came home to an updated post about it on another teacher's blog.
I often wonder... If we see testing is ruining the chances for our students, why do we continue to test them? What would happen if we said No? Unfortunately, we're all stuck. We either test or be stuck without jobs in hard economic times... and the thought of not spending my time educating young minds... what would I do?
It'll be interesting how this plays out come February. Not sure what the best answers are, but from what I've seen in a school where real teaching and learning seems to have slipped out the door and constant test-prep has taken over, I cannot help but feel this testing thing is taking away the learning. Ms. Bond, sure it's important that teachers do their jobs... But at the end of the day, the most important thing is that the students have learned. I have to say, I've spent many frustrating days feeling I'm not meeting the most important need... at least not to the fullest, because of testing.
*Side note: Lucky B.C. teachers only having to test their students in 4th and 7th grade before they head to high school. What would they do if they came to the U.S. and saw the testing we put our young students through... and even worse, come to NYC and see how many tests we give our kids outside the "required" ones for NCLB. Predictive tests and practice tests... (We are always wishing for a miracle... maybe if we give the test again in two days, the results will magically increase... wishing for fours... fours... fours... Or NOT.)
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2 hours ago
3 comments:
You hit the nail on the head--give a test every two days, and expect to see growth. (I'm sure non-teachers would assume you are exaggerating with that statement, but sadly, I know it's accurate). They ARE hoping for a miracle.
At any rate...enjoy yourself tonight and have a wonderful new year!!
I live in Texas where we have the TAKS test. We test in 3rd (required to pass reading to go on to 4th and math) in 4th (reading, math, writing) and in 5th (reading, math, science, social studies). Plus they go on to test in 8th as well as in High School (not sure what grades/subjects since I don't teach there). I have really begun to hate the test so much due to what you have talked about. I really want to change grades to get away from this test for at least a year but it is almost impossible to get outside a TAKS grade when you have taught in a grade that tests it and you are successful at it (which I think I am). I have taught for 10 years in a TAKS grade and it has gotten worse.
If the UFT would take a stand there would be a chance. The Justice Not Just Tests committee of NYCORE is putting together a petition campaign on high stakes testing. We will be circulating it around the schools very soon. Look for it or we will provide info on where to download. It is the only chance to fight back.
norm
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