Opinion: The ‘lunacy’ of standardized tests for kids
By Nancy Creech
Have you ever given young children a standardized test?
Kindergartners are 4 to 5 years old and this is what happens: Some of them cry. Some get stomach aches. Many of them, all of a sudden when instructions are being explained, have to go to the bathroom or get a tissue. Some draw all over the paper. They talk. They shout out answers, as they have been taught to care for one another and help one another.
Race to the Top put us on the data bandwagon and Education Secretary Arne Duncan has now called for more “formative assessments.” Even though Michigan did not win Race to the Top money, we are nevertheless answering the call for data for data, data, and more data, for children in kindergarten.
I am spending so much time recording “formative” assessments that I don’t have time to evaluate the meaningful assessments and plan for instruction, much less time to actually teach!
I now have to give a total of more than 27,000 check marks or grades for my class of 25 students per year. This is not counting the stars, stickers or smiley faces I put on their work each day.
Nancy Creech is a kindergarten teacher in Michigan.
At least we may.have a great potential antidote to strictly “teaching to the test” with the iBIPARTISAN introduction of No Child Left Inside Act of 2011 on july 14th in Congress.
Founded on the body of work known as Nature Deficit Disorder, it may offer a possibility of being able to introduce play (and sanity) into the ‘K’ end of K/12. . . .
The NCLI Coalition counts over 2,000 members representing almost 50,000,000 Americans.For a local LTN perspective, click on “Voices”, scroll don to ‘A Vision for No Child Left Inside’
This bill needs all of our support for next generations. . .
,
From a retired teacher: And they tell us teaching is a breeze -an easy job held in low esteem by the public.I dare those who so think to spend a week -even a day-in a classroom doing what teachers do. Then let them tell us that teaching is easy. With No Child Left Behind it has become, as the writer says- lunacy.
School is meant to prepare our young people to become citizens.
Ask yourself, since you left school how many times has your employer asked you to take a standardized test?
Standardized tests are meant to test how the school is doing. Wouldn’t a better indicator be how many graduate and succeed at their next level? How much money do you think is spent on printing, distributing, processing and reporting on these test? How much teaching time is lost to this process?
We all want our kids and our schools to succeed and be effectual but do we really need to test every grade? Why not only test at transition points… when a student enters 3rd grade (transition to reading), 5th grade (transition out of Elementary), at 9th grade (transition to High School) and at 12th grade (Graduation)?
Common since suggests that if tests are the focus that is what is learned. What do you want your kids to learn, the subject matter or the test? How do you want your schools evaluated, on how the students test or how they progress?
I don;t think the answer to this is a tough one. Testing needs to be toned down.
My two cents
-Local Yokle
Classroom size should be 16:1.
Teachers know who is behind and who is doing well. With 16:1 teachers could teach and nurture instead of spending so much time on discipline. With 16:1 students wouldn’t be “left behind”. Only minimum testing should be required or needed.
Put a competent teacher in the room with 16 students and get out of the way. Add parent helpers in the classroom for good measure.
With 16:1 class size, schools would need fewer councilors and administrators, and thus have more money for music, art, and other electives for our kids.
KISS. (Keep it simple stupid)
Thoughts from a 30 year retired teacher.
Les:
I love your ideas, all classes should be that size in a perfect world. Parent helpers are great but unfortunately parents think their involvement ends in 5th grade, or in economically/socially challenged schools the parents can’t or won’t volunteer to help when it is needed the most. And some teachers don’t know how to use the help that is offered.