Comments on: Why Are We Testing Our Kids To Death?

By: Elva

Elva — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:19:39 +0000

So so true!!!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:47:25 +0000

I’m a teacher and the tests are killing me! I think we should be cultivating children’s interests and nurturing talents instead of forcing ALL kids to achieve the SAME standards. Are all jobs in the US the same? Do they all require the same skill set? Why can’t we graduate students who have actual skills that could help them find employment? Why do we insist everyone needs college? The richest person in my family never went to college!

By: Penelope

Penelope — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:42:17 +0000

You’ve told parents to contact school officials: teachers, administrators, etc. Being one such educational representative, I can assure you that we all feel there is entirely too much testing. Contacting us would be like preaching to the choir. For effective change, encourage parents to contact state and federal representatives, SBEC, etc. Once THEY hear from enough parents, change can begin.

By: Faridah Hanim

Faridah Hanim — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:11:05 +0000

I whole wholeheartedly agree with you. I am a teacher educator on on a vicious mission to prove that learning must be FUN and meaningful and challenging. This is a very difficult task to embark on but it is very satisfying once you see students buying into your vision and mission. So let us be heard. LESS TEST LESS STRESS
Malaysia

By: Krista Filer

Krista Filer — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:46:34 +0000

Love the Article. My children are attending school in PA. It’s even worse here. The teachers are trying to teach them the test instead of teaching them what they need to graduate.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:22:10 +0000

This was an eye opener for me. I have home schooled my four kids from the beginning–they are now 3rd, 4th, 6th, and 8th graders. Pretty much everyone I know home schools, so I did not realize how much testing had overtaken the public school, and not just here in the US! I’d heard about them teaching to the test, but I just didn’t know it was that bad. I’ve only tested my kids once a year in their math and reading skills on-line, and although I like it, I’ve worried how accurate it really is. I can tell you right now that two of my kids would do well on tests, and the other two would struggle and probably not do very well. But are they learning impaired or dumb? No! I was reminded as I read this blog that it’s easy to get caught up in tests as the parent/teacher because you want to know if you’re doing a good job. When my kids have a math review or science quiz, and they don’t do very well, I have had to tell myself that it’s not necessarily a reflection of me as the teacher or even them as the student. Tests are often very flawed, and some kids just don’t do well on tests. Also, will the fact that they can’t remember what a composite volcano is impact them at any point in their life? I can’t imagine being a teacher in a public school who has to work under that pressure. Even though I home school, I admire those public school teachers who keep trying to give children a good education. For the past two years I’ve read and implemented the Charlotte Mason method of education, which is reading living, whole books and using narration and copy work as the method of “testing.” I’ve found that it works very well for my kids, especially my non-readers and non-testers. I love to read out loud (read, period!), and they love to listen. They also love to tell me what they are reading on their own. I’ve also changed my perspective on tests. Instead of worrying about how many they miss, I use them as a way to review the material and discover what they need to work on a little bit more (especially in math). If they get the concept, I move on and let them skip needless exercises. If the next review they’ve forgotten, then we go back and work on it. I’m not sure why I’m posting all this. I just wanted to share and let you know I also appreciated your post on 7 Reasons I Really Admire Home Schoolers. It was very encouraging to me as a home school mom. Thanks!

By: Mary Scheckman

Mary Scheckman — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:00:44 +0000

I am in total agreement that we have way too much testing going on. I am a first grade reading and social studies teacher and I can’t remember when was the last normal week I had where I could do small groups and conference with my students. Right after winter break we had to FAIR test, take the Osceola Writes Expository and the following week Narrative besides taking the math midterms. We didn’t quite finished all that excitement that I have to start administering running records to each individual child.
I too feel that it is way to many assessments and not enough time to instruct. Something is got to give. If we had more time to teach and allow time for mastery, we wouldn’t need all this unnecessary assessments. However, the pressure is on and we teachers are always under the gun.

By: Elva

Elva — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:15:51 +0000

Linda–Start saving for private school Just kidding! I think by the time she goes to High School there will be many more options available such as larger home school support groups as I think homeschooling will become more mainstream. I know if I were staying on in the US I would definitely home school or I would start my own school with some other involved parents (I have spoken with a few people about this already but sadly I can’t do this right now in my life). I think other involved parents might start their own schools. Why does she want to go to regular school?

By: Linda

Linda — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:38:32 +0000

I have been homeschooling my daughter for the past three years, largely because of this testing requirement. When I was in school, we learned and passed, largely based on our effort and support from our teachers and parents. If we failed, it was often because effort wasn’t being put forth. However, NEVER did we have anything like this. When my daughter started first grade, it was at a local elementary school, and I was surprised at how much homework she was getting, even at that tender age, as well as the content. In first grade, you would expect them to be learning such things as 2+2=4 or things like that. They were being taught STATISTICS!!! I volunteered in her classroom on Friday afternoons for a time and finally asked her teacher, a wonderful lady, “Whatever happened to 1+1=2?” She told me that teachers aren’t allowed to teach that way anymore, but that had to teach to the WASL. When students have to be taught to the test, then they are no longer getting a well-rounded education. How is this even allowed? It seems like all this testing is for the schools and the government to “prove” how well kids are learning, rather than providing a well-rounded education that students will actually benefit from!!! I’m shuddering about putting her in public school for high school for that very reason. Homeschooled, or private-schooled, kids are actually exempt from all this ridiculous testing. Am thinking about K12 for her ninth grade, but she’s been begging me to put her in regular school after that. Help!!

By: marge

marge — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:13:37 +0000

I totally agree with you. I remember when I was in school we did a lot of experiments and projects. We were always learning and inquisitive. We weren’t being tested so much and yet we knew what was needed to know by the end of the year