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| IMAGE: Big Education Ape |
Every spring-its just insane that we subject any child (or teacher) to a full two weeks or more of these pointless tests: Test that only serve to supersede real classroom learning and that help to expand the private for-profit testing industry.
If just a mere 10% of the students refuse to take the tests, its considered invalid and the current practice will most likely be stopped.
According to the Article below:
If the [standardized] tests fail to test the same percentage each year, ALL of the statistical information and scores are invalidated.
That’s why there is so much pressure on the schools to have 100% test participation. This is why there is the threat of the school "failing" if the percentage for an entire school (or for any measurable subgroup of students) falls below 95% participation. Its all a huge manipulation, designed to make schools "fail" so gov has an excuse to take them over.
For smaller and rural schools, test scores are statistically meaningless - yet they STILL have to administer standardized tests, or it could open a door for lawsuits if other schools were to sue under the "equal protection" clause.
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan stated earlier this week that the Dept of Education predicts 82% of schools will fail this year no matter what we do.
82%? How did he arrive at that number? (Must be Common Core Math...)
So let's pretend that 82% of all schools will fail no matter what... then why are we even going through the motions? And from a financial position, it costs more taxpayer money (some districts in PA report up to $9 million) to administer and score these tests than any funding the government may be promising over several years. Do the actual math!!
It makes more sense for the schools to "fail" (supposedly) because parents and kids say NO to testing rather than putting the burden and the blame on the kids who just don't test well, or who don't feel well that day, or the kids with special needs, kids living in poverty, kids struggling with English, and their teachers.
In addition, there are about 400 different pieces of personal data that is collected on each child who takes these tests. We have no control over how that data is used or who sees it. Why do they need to know so much about our kids?
This is not only unnecessary, but is also morally and ethically wrong to perpetuate this farce that the tests will somehow magically help our children "compete in a global economy". Neither colleges nor employers pay much attention to test scores-in fact when was the last time you asked your dentist, accountant, personal trainer, school nurse, mechanic, hairstylist (or even Arne Duncan) to see his/her standardized test scores? Don't buy it. Its swamp land.
We are being sold the biggest truckload of BS in education history.
An assessment can be a useful tool for an educator to measure student progress in an area-but not the way these are being pushed like they as important as air. Don't be emotional-but DO be calm & firm in your refusal to allow this madness to continue. If you are still participating in these tests, then you and your child are being used and are part of the problem. The powers that be don't care that kids who have potential are falling through the cracks-and that great teachers are leaving the field altogether, because the tests were NEVER about helping kids or building better schools in the first place.
Read:
If Ten Percent Refuse...
Further Reading:
What 400 Data Points
'Sit and Stare'-What some kids who refuse tests are forced to do
College Applicants Sweat the SATs. Perhaps they Shouldn't
ICYMI: AP Scores Don't Matter in College Admission
Why Google Doesn't Care about Hiring Top College Graduates
What Standardized Tests really Tell Us
United Opt Out
FairTest.org
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