To the editor:
I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with Atty. Gen. Phill Kline on a recent point: The current state standard that all school children will be proficient in reading and math by 2014 is unrealistic. Educators across the state have been saying that since the first rumblings of this crazy idea hit the streets in 2001.
Advocates of the law who say that test scores are rising are correct. Many test scores are rising. Big whoop. The reason test scores are rising is because more and more schools and teachers are focusing on how to pass the test. As a matter of fact, some schools are pushing subjects like science and social studies to the back burner (especially in the lower grades) in order to make room for math and reading instruction.
A friend who teaches in the Kansas City area related to me personally that students in her district are coming into the fifth and sixth grades having received little or no science or social studies instruction. These subjects are tested also, but they don't make a difference to whether a school is accredited, so they aren't taught. I predict that we're going to see more and more of this, and our children (read our society) will suffer in the long run. When we sacrifice well-rounded education for a pie-in-the-sky unattainable goal based purely on one test, we are only hurting ourselves.
The fact that test scores are rising does not mean that our kids are getting smarter. It shows that teachers are getting smarter and learning how to get kids to pass the test.
Chris Anderson,
Lawrence
Comments
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moderationman (anonymous) says…
New York has a tiered HS diploma system...a regular diploma and a "Regents Diploma" which makes one eligible to apply to a state university. Most HS teachers admit that their classes are geared to "teach the test." The more we use standardized tests to measure progress, the more we will find educators teaching the test. It is an absurd system that does little to actually educate our children.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Throw NCLB in the trash and start over after the Bush administration is gone. The Bush administrations ultimate goal is to close down public schools in favor of vouchers for private schools. That means to me that corporate welfare(tax dollars) will take control of our education system. Then we will have CEO's and board members on the payroll...no thanks.
There is this notion that private schools teach better which may or may not be the case.