Testing is the way the
state to measures the progress of our children’s learning. I agree that there should be a way to measure
where we rank and how well we are doing.
The testing that is currently required is a bit much to say the least. Not only is the material much harder there is
an expectation for much more information to be learned. Is it right that these mandated tests are
what our teachers focus on all year?
Should these tests be so overwhelming that students and teachers are
miserable?
School should be fun. Learning should be fun. Children spend more time at school than they
do at home. It is a fact that children
learn more when they are engaged and having fun. School is no longer fun or exciting. Today in Texas education is about learning
how to pass these tests and memorizing the things they can. Students are given worksheets daily to
practice the types of questions that are on these tests. Then they get in there to take the tests and some
of the items on the tests haven’t even been taught to them because the teachers
don’t have enough time to teach the information. When
an eleven year old child comes home and cries because she is so worried about
taking a stupid science test there is problem. When a child’s self confidence is destroyed
because of these tests there is a problem.
Teachers don’t feel like they are teaching anymore. Schools have parent nights to explain to
parents the rigor of the new testing system and they openly admit that they
teach to the test, for the test. No
wonder children dislike school.
The variety in learning abilities of children is so wide yet
they are all forced to complete the same tests.
Yes I know they have accommodations for some students but that barely
touches on the different learning abilities of all children. Not only that, think about the actual testing
day. When learning how to take the tests
they are taught in a loud classroom with guidance and as much enthusiasm as the
teacher can give to get them excited about it.
Then they are expected to sit in a dead silent classroom for four hours
straight without getting up or speaking at all. How many students do you think freeze up or
have trouble just because of the setting? How does the state expect to increase
their graduation rates when children are so overwhelmed by these ridiculous
tests that quitting seems like the better option?
Thankfully there has been a lot of attention brought to this
topic. The scope and quantity of these tests is too much for our students and
teachers to handle. The legislature has
proposed House Bill 742, which eliminates the social studies portion for all
grades. I think it’s great that someone
is trying to help alleviate some of the pressure but really social
studies? Social studies is an important
subject in my opinion. Don’t they want
our children to know the history of our country? Though I can understand why math, reading and
science are considered more important given the way the world works today. Those skills are necessary in any profession
where as social studies is only necessary for some. I don’t feel like House Bill 742 is enough a
change. Other changes need to be
made.
Testing is a necessity, I know that. We need to know that our children are learning. We need to find a testing system that works for
all children, something that will build confidence in them not something that
overwhelms and breaks them down. Learning is a lifelong experience. If you ruin it for children so young you are
ruining their love for learning forever.
I am writing this blog post in response to the Musings of a Sassy Texas Skeptic's blog post entitled, "Testing Reform Needed." Her main point that she focused on is that the Texas' Legislature needs to make changes when it comes to standardize testing.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with her argument, too much of our teachers' and students' time is taken up by preparing for this test. Instead of focusing on preparing these children for the future, they are instead trying to see if they can answer irrelevant questions that do not hold any value for real life. Students in Texas are obviously not getting the education needed because they score in the lowest quarter for SAT scores in the country. This statistic shows that the standardize tests are not doing what they are supposed to do. A student may score well on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (Texas' standardized test), but then turn around and get a very low score on the SAT. Going forward the Legislature should do away with the TAKS test and allow the teachers more time to educate their students on relevant matters. These matters may included getting the students ready for the SAT and ACT which are very important in regards to college acceptance. Also preparing the students for real life, such as tax paying, loans and credit.
As you can see, I am completely on the same page as the Sassy Texas Skeptic when it comes to reform of standardize testing. There needs to be change, and fast.
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ReplyDeleteStephanie Davis, a fellow colleague, comments on standardized testing in schools and new changes that will come if Texas House Bill 742 comes to pass. She brings up how schools are only focused on students passing standardized test and how school has become “no longer fun or exciting.” She also mentions that schools need to be more accommodating to all types of students when it comes to the testing environment.
ReplyDeleteDavis claims that standardized tests in schools are ruining the way children view learning. She suggests that a new method of testing should be implemented in schools that will encourage and empower students to love learning. Although she believes House Bill 742 is a start, it is not enough and more should be done to combat this problem.
I agree with Davis when she says, “[s]chool should be fun.” Texas has recently replaced the TAKS test (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) with the STAAR test (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness), increasing the amount of tests students must take at the end of each school year. High school students must take and end-of-course exam (EOC) for Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology, and US History. This places a large amount of stress on students and teachers alike. This type of testing drives competition between schools, taking away an important goal in the process—student success. Another disadvantage to these tests is that they only focus on certain subjects and dismisses the creative part of learning. I do believe that testing is necessary to give teachers guidance and track students’ progress, but I believe our current method of testing might be a burning out our students.