Test Protest

I have taught in poor rural schools, poor urban schools and afluent schools in safe communities. I found the most influence comes from the community and family. The students who did the best in school had positive support from family and community. Figure it out!

maybe we should administer these tests to the school board members and also for the state reps etc and see how they do. This is a ridiculous way to achieve a learning environment that is for the children...not the politicians. Atta Boy!(no bad meaning to that statement!:))

What I noticed as a student in these senarios where state testing has been implemented was that our daily curriculum shifted to "re-teach" skills that should have been retained already by most of the tested students, so as to reflect positively on the EDUCATORS-making sure they are doing THEIR job. Our education lost is focus for months of the academic year prior to state-mandated testing.

?where is my post?

THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH THE "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND" POLICY THAT I CAN'T WRITE ABOUT THEM ALL HERE.I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE ARE DRAGGING KIDS THROUGH THE GRADES, WHETHER THEY ARE LEARNING OR NOT.

I commend you for doing this. As a mother of 4 seeing the difference in each childs abilities and learning styles, I think the "No Child Left Behind" cirriculum does just that....leaves those behind who don't conform to that certain test. Good job, and thank you for standing up for this WRONG!

Unfortunately the school districts are so worried about their test scores that they push the teachers all year to prepare the students for state profeciency exams. Then for the last few months the teachers are supposed to cram the kids with the information they were supposed to be learning all year long.

that right because no kids are alone toi be left behind

thank you for standing up for what's right and for showing us parents that some teachers are just as concerned as us about our children being stuffed into these learning and testing "boxes". Just between my own four children there are several different learning and testing styles. Our children are being forced to prepare all year long for these dry and awful tests, and they are missing out on the creative and individual parts of education. What ever happened to diaramas, posters, science in the classroom, dressing up like pilgrims at Thanksgiving? These are just a slight few of the awesome experiences even our youngest learners are missing out on because the teachers don't have time to make learning fun. They have to keep shoving this other crap down our kid's throats, and quite frankly, they're choking on it all. Quit beating our children over the head with these dry and conforming tests. Individuality is what we are supposed to respect in eachother. How do we get to opt our children out? This is very interesting to me and I wonder how many parents know this is an option? I'd like to know what exactly I must do to utilize this option for our family.

Athough I'm not a teacher, I have assisted many in main stream as well as those in a disabled setting. What happens to those who are disabled mentally and physically? I am in total agreement with what Mr. Wasserman did; until the whole nation recognizes that everyone is created equal and entitled to the same opportunities this NCLB bs is just that. WE are ONE Nation under God, I don't care what color, how much money or what kind of car you drive. Stop using those things as excuses and pull your heads out of dark places.

I agree with this teacher because my children learn differently from eachother and can't be stuffed into a "box" of learning and testing styles. I was interested to hear that we can opt out our children from the testing. How is this done?

I was not aware that parents have the right to "opt out" their chidren from taking state testing. Can someone enlighten us all further on this matter. If this is so, I know a school full of parents that would "opt out." This could be the quickest way to make state testing go away.

ITS ABOUT TIME! I have several friends who are teachers who have complained again and again about these tests. Most teachers feel they are teaching the kids to pass the tests only. Therefore, they do not have the time to make certain that kids understand the concepts behind the answers. They are also stuck with having to pass kids because of their scores on the tests when the kids haven't really learned and retained the information that was fed to them, making the following school year more difficult on the child. I have 2 children who are suffering right now because they can do well on multiple choice and pass these tests with ease, but are technically on a reading level 2 grades behind and struggle with all of thier classes. This "no child left behind" program is a lame excuse to ignor the problems of lower income areas and to reward the areas of greater affluence. I've seen so many kids get passed who actually can't even add at the middleschool level.

No Child Left Behind is a great idea IN THEORY. The problem is that it pre-supposes that the child and his/her parents are doing all they can to support the child's education. If that IS the case, then looking at the teachers and the schools is fair. BUT, if the stud3ents/ parents are NOT cooperating fully where does that leave the teachers and the school? We (teachers) are penalized when we have no control over things.

As A teacher I agree with the fact that we have to much testing. Grade level Proficiency( NCLB), Standardized like the CAT or ITBS, Manditory semester final exams, PSAT for all tenth graders and 11th who want to retake. To put it bluntly - It's sure hard to fatten the hog when you have to weigh it everyday. Yet our school system does use the results to target areas for improvement in our overall student population to apply school wide assitance in specific areas, like greek and latin prefix's and suffix's. or the implementation of writting assignments across the curriculum, including Essay questions on PE tests to improve writting skills. So Schools can use the testing they do to improve student achievment.

The No Child Left Behind law is in itself an oxymoron. More children are struggling trying to adapt to how each state believes is the "correct" way to learn. It is insanity to believe that conformity will produce prosperity. I wish our government would listen to this wake up call before our children slip further "behind".

It's too bad that we have an administration that refuses to take constructive critism, admit when they are wrong and work with others in a bi-partisan manner to help correct and make things work better in our country.

I did very well on these tests when I was in high school, 10 yrs ago. IEven with that I see no way in which this was helpful in my education. What would be helpful is classes that actually give kids the skills needed to live in the real world. I don;t think kids are taught enough about the basics that are needed never mind any goverment bull. Who was dumb enough to decide this was a good idea. I feel very lucky that my yearly raise isn't based off of one day at work. That test should be modified and giving to our goverment and have those results out in the media. Then we will see why we have 30% drop out rates and a falling economy.