Test Protest

It is so easy to suggest that testing is somehow biased and unfair. What is never discussed is an alternative. These teachers that are we are supposed to just trust to do their job, without standardized measurement, are all to often uninterested in doing just that...their job. If the students fail the test at least a red flag is raised for an administration to determine the reasons. Also, for each of these 'conciencious objectors' (whom I believe truly teaches and cares about his students) there are a half dozen slackers coasting to retirement. Where is the outrage from these teachers about that undeniable situation? I would like to also discuss the rampant molestation of students by this same 'saintly' bunch, but I haven't the time or the space.

It is so easy to suggest that testing is somehow biased and unfair. What is never discussed is an alternative. These teachers that are we are supposed to just trust to do their job, without standardized measurement, are all to often uninterested in doing just that...their job. If the students fail the test at least a red flag is raised for an administration to determine the reasons. Also, for each of these 'conciencious objectors' (whom I believe truly teaches and cares about his students) there are a half dozen slackers coasting to retirement. I would like to also discuss the rampant molestation of students by this same 'saintly' bunch, but I haven't the time or the space.

I agree. The debate also needs to examine what these tests are doing to critical thinking in our classrooms. This year in my Middle School, the English teachers are teaching directly to the English Language Assessment and ignoring teaching English. The authors meaning, moral lessons and the reader???s personal interpretation do not matter anymore. Students simply practice the skills which will benefit them on the test.
I teach Social Studies and I have my classes do research and create websites which they use to teach their fellow classmates. We engage in debates, do mock court trials, perform dramatic historic plays, create PowerPoint presentation, and use Photo Story 3 to tell historic stories with pictures and music and more. The Social Studies Assessment which my eighth grade students will take at the end of the year is incapable of measuring any of this learning. If my students numbers drop by one percent, did I do a poor job with my students? The truth behind the testing is that it is there to serve the politicians who need an issue which they can rally the voters around. It also is there to try and get teachers who are not doing the job to work and perform at a higher level. That should be achieved in other ways, because the great teachers who care, constantly must sacrifice curriculum enrichment for their students to put aside time to teach to the test.

"Aural" refers to hearing. The object of an aural test is for the examiners to hear and separately comprehend the responses and thoughts of the person examined. Thanks for the splendid example of "standardized" blogging.

I am an E.L.L kindergarten teacher at a school where 75% of our students are African refugees. These students are expected to take this test just as American born students are without any modifcations for language, not to mention culture. The whole law, in my opinion, is absurd and will only cause false judgements on schools like ours.

To slarue: Here's the reference you're referring to: "If we had an aural language assessment [a test using the spoken word], for example, we'd have different test results that would show less of a gap between those groups."
For your information (and not trying to sound catty, by the way), but "aural" is a word, and it's being used correctly here. "Aural" is a word referring to sound, like "auditory." An "aural" test is where a child hears a word spoken, then defines the word aloud.

To slarue: Here's the reference you're referring to: "If we had an aural language assessment [a test using the spoken word], for example, we'd have different test results that would show less of a gap between those groups."
For your information (and not trying to sound catty, by the way), but "aural" is a word, and it's being used correctly here. "Aural" is a word referring to sound, like "auditory." An "aural" test is where a child hears a word spoken, then defines the word aloud.

oral is spelled ORAL not aural.

To be quite honest, I believe that Mr. Wasserman was right in his ways. He did it in a respectful manner; he let the principal of the school know what what was going on beforehand. If the principal objected to it, just as the district officials claimed to, he would have notified someone of higher power. These standardized tests are exactly that: standard. They do not benefit "Higher Learning." They just prove to the state that some students are perfectly capable of doing actual guesswork, or that other students do or do not know how to fill in the circles of the answer sheet. Don't get me wrong, as a highschool student myself, I support trying to get every student up to speed and not leaving a single one behind, but there comes a point where enough is enough. I congratulate Mr. Wasserman on his conscientious objection. I only wish more teachers had the gaul to do the same.

He should not be paid for the day he did not work.

There are EXCELLENT assessment tools available. If this teacher doesn't like the assessment tool chosen by his State, he should work with them to create a better tool.
I'm curious how he envisions proctoring an aural exam to 30ish students at the same time ! ! !

I'm not aware of any research which supports his claim that an aural format would benefit the "majority of kids"?! Or that the "majority of kids" are not accurately assessed in their reading, writing, and mathematic skills and abilities by a well designed, written test?

I commend this man for standing up tp the Administrators! Most teachers sit and talk and gripe in the lounge rather then taking a stance! Children should be taught to learn not taught to take tests! Their learning process is haulted in order for them to learn how to take these test. Large of amount of stress is placed on the schools to test out perfectly rather than standing out for their academics! Germaine

I am prou dof this teacher! Teachers are teaching kids how to take tests. Their academic learning process is haulted in order to do this. I say let teachers teach and let children learn. Germaine

Mr. Wasserman is right! As teacher we are taught that we need to teach to the various learning styles in our classroom, so that every student has the opportunity to learn in a meaningful way individual to them. We are also taught to use multiple assessment methods for the same reasons. Why then, are such high stakes placed on a test that addresses only one learning style? I took a class for my Masters where we delved pretty deeply into this matter and I realized that there is a lot that parents and teachers can do to try and turn the tide here. The only problem is, teachers who openly oppose this like Mr. Wasserman come into danger of losing their jobs. I think of it like this: What if Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders had never dared to stand up for what was right...all the while risking their lives? If enough people stand behind this, change can, and will occur.