A Standardized Testing Uproar

There seems to be never a dull moment in the education career field, and recently, the New York Times reported on one mother's "radical" action to show frustration over the push in standardized testing.

Edy Chamness jumped into action after watching the love of learning basically drained from her son Christopher. In third grade, she noticed her son started complaining of stomach aches more and more before leaving for school, and also that the previous excitement for learning seemed now less evident. It all came to a head after her son broke a pencil eraser off in his ear canal one day at class when he was bored. Edy, being a former teacher, decided to go and sit in on the classroom, and she walked away unhappy with what she found.

Instead of what might be considered real education, she found what she referred to as a “work sheet distribution center.” School districts depend more and more upon accountability ratings, and therefore the teaching style now focuses more on preparing the students to pass the yearly assessment tests than engaging the educational "juices" of the children.

Ms. Chamness has now decided that, with her son in fourth grade, she will remove him out of the standardized testing period in the spring, to protest the system that has drained her son's love for learning. The standardized testing guidelines come as a result of the "No Child Left Behind" push.

The NY Times articles reports:

It is a precarious time for Texas school districts. Faced with roughly $5.4 billion less in state financing, districts this year will administer new, more rigorous state exams called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or Staar. And for the first time in high school, the assessments are linked to graduation requirements and final grades.

There is anxiety among school leaders, educators and parents about meeting the increased standards with fewer resources. In the Panhandle, the Hereford Independent School District superintendent may withhold her district’s test scores from the state. An Austin parent is considering a lawsuit to stop the rollout of the tests. Some legislators are mulling over how to postpone some of the tests’ consequences for students.

Even Robert Scott of the Texas Education Agency admitted that student testing in the state had become “perversion of its original intent” and that they were looking at "reeling it back" in the future. While this garnered a well deserved standing ovation, it was also seen as out of character and somewhat of a reversal to his previously held opinion on the matter.

For those of you with a previous history in the education field, what do you think about the standardized testing issue and how it has affected your teaching style? Comment below.
 

Jeff McCormack resides in Virginia Beach, VA. where he works as a web designer by day. In his off time he is a husband, father, mail order book store manager, and musician. Aside from being a freelance writer for this Education Jobsite blog, he also seeks to assist in career choices and information by contributing to other Nexxt blog sites.