(n) Re: 26% of U.S. don't know who we declared independence from

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

This is my 2 cents worth: In the old days when I was in school, we learned

history, math, science, English, Reading, Writing, Art, Music. Maybe some

others that I don't recall. But, that was back in the day when teachers could

teach. Now, there are assessment tests. Teachers have to teach to those tests

if they want their students to pass. In Washington state we used to have the

Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL. Our new Superintendent of

Public Instruction had promised to eliminate the WASL and help develop a new way

to assess student learning. Of course, we still have the WASL, just with a

different name: High School Profieciency Exam for high school students and

Measurement of Student Progress for grades 3-8.

The subjects covered on this new test are Reading, Math, Writing, and Science.

This is what the teachers teach to. I talked with my son's teacher at length

about this and he doesn't like it any more than I do. Because, it seems that if

a teacher can't get his student to pass this test, then, he is not doing his

job.

I don't like standardized testing and never have. Standardized tests only cover

specific subjects and do not give a true evaluation of a student's ability to

learn and understand. Some students just don't do well with tests even if they

know the subject matter.

It all started with that law, No Child Left Behind. Why can't teachers just

teach?

Donna in WA

[Guest guest]

Standardized testing is one of the stupid-est things ever - how can you

apply standardized tests to non-standardized children?

I have always been thankful for my first school experience - 9 grades in

a 3-room rural school way out in the Appalachian piney-woods, if you

finished your work early or were ahead of your classmates there was the

reward of something new - a bigger book, a new subject - and if you were

behind, the teacher or an older student was always available to help.

Now it seems there are too many kids, not enough teachers, not enough

RESPECT for the teachers...

And every available minute seems to be needed for those stupid tests, or

the school loses what little funding they get.

in WY

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(n) Re: 26% of U.S. don't know who we declared

independence from

Sharon,

This is my 2 cents worth: In the old days when I was in school, we learned

history, math, science, English, Reading, Writing, Art, Music. Maybe some

others that I don't recall. But, that was back in the day when teachers

could teach. Now, there are assessment tests. Teachers have to teach to

those tests if they want their students to pass. In Washington state we used

to have the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL. Our new

Superintendent of Public Instruction had promised to eliminate the WASL and

help develop a new way to assess student learning. Of course, we still have

the WASL, just with a different name: High School Profieciency Exam for high

school students and Measurement of Student Progress for grades 3-8.

The subjects covered on this new test are Reading, Math, Writing, and

Science. This is what the teachers teach to. I talked with my son's teacher

at length about this and he doesn't like it any more than I do. Because, it

seems that if a teacher can't get his student to pass this test, then, he is

not doing his job.

I don't like standardized testing and never have. Standardized tests only

cover specific subjects and do not give a true evaluation of a student's

ability to learn and understand. Some students just don't do well with tests

even if they know the subject matter.

It all started with that law, No Child Left Behind. Why can't teachers just

teach?

Donna in WA

[Guest guest]

DonnaI agree on the assessment tests. But that started way before No Child Left Behind because that's been going on for a lot of years here in Arizona. Maybe not in Washington but it has here. SharonThis email is a natural hand made product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects. To: MSersLife Sent: Mon, July 5, 2010 11:16:13 AMSubject: (n) Re: 26% of U.S. don't know who we declared independence from

Sharon, This is my 2 cents worth: In the old days when I was in school, we learned history, math, science, English, Reading, Writing, Art, Music. Maybe some others that I don't recall. But, that was back in the day when teachers could teach. Now, there are assessment tests. Teachers have to teach to those tests if they want their students to pass. In Washington state we used to have the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL. Our new Superintendent of Public Instruction had promised to eliminate the WASL and help develop a new way to assess student learning. Of course, we still have the WASL, just with a different name: High School Profieciency Exam for high school students and Measurement of Student Progress for grades 3-8. The subjects covered on this new test are Reading, Math, Writing, and Science. This is what the teachers teach to. I talked with

my son's teacher at length about this and he doesn't like it any more than I do. Because, it seems that if a teacher can't get his student to pass this test, then, he is not doing his job. I don't like standardized testing and never have. Standardized tests only cover specific subjects and do not give a true evaluation of a student's ability to learn and understand. Some students just don't do well with tests even if they know the subject matter. It all started with that law, No Child Left Behind. Why can't teachers just teach?Donna in WA------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Sharon,The WASL began in 1997, just a few years before No Child Left Behind was enacted. Even when I was in school, there were assessment tests; but, the big difference between then and now is that students need to pass the assessment tests before they can graduate. We took assessment tests for statistical purposes only. Teachers weren't going to get fired if students did not do well. What does a student do if he gets all the way through high school and is in his senior year and has yet to pass the proficiency exams? Back when I was in elementary school, there were students that were held back to repeat grades if they were not proficient enough to advance to the next grade. My sister and brother were both retained in 4th grade. So, 4 one year, they were both in 4th grade. Now, especially here

where I live, it is unheard of for a child to repeat a grade. When I got a letter from the Middle School principal that Marcus was in danger of failing; I told him that It would be in his best interest to be kept in middle school, at least for one more year. But, the district doesn't like to have any of the students be kept back. So, forward they go, whether they are ready for it or not. It is still possible for a student to excel in high school and not be able to do well on the standardized proficiency exams. While I did well in some subjects in high school, there were others that I didn't do well. Of course, if my graduation from high school had depended upon passing proficiency exams, I doubt that I would have been able to graduate. Donna in WA