Hello Everyone. Adra Young here once again. I’d like to start this blog off by wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Memorial Holiday Weekend. I’m not sure how many of my fans read my blog are closer to my age range or not? I state this only to see how many individuals remember how many national or state test they took in those quote on quote “Good Old Days?” At the tender age of 10, I believe it was only two for me at that time.
Well times have changed as well as the number of times a student takes a standardized and or norm referenced examination. This year, I along with the teachers in my school district were mandated to provide one state test and four assessments that would represent as our overall state national percentage. In fact, I just finished up with the last portion of the fourth assessment today with my students. Providing these test can be very stressful as an educator. It is however a part of my proceedings as a teacher so I do what I am mandated to do. What I do not and will ever refuse to agree with is the pressure these type of test put on our students.
During testing time yesterday, one of my students started crying. Out of concern, I asked the student what was wrong. There response was that they were simply tired of testing. After getting the student to calm down, I motivated them to complete the entire examination . This student by the was not diagnosed or faced any reading or learning challenges. They were simply just tired.
After the students left for that day, I thought to myself, if our kids are feeling overwhelmed about these multiple assessments at the ages of 11 and 12 than where will their stress levels be at by the time they are 17 and 18 about to enter into the next phases of their lives? I simply don’t think that it’s necessary to assess a youngster four and five times a year. What sincere validity is it really serving?
Adra's Educational Blog 
May 27, 2011 at 10:17 pm |
Adra, great article. I agree unnecessary test, for any “discovery” is not acceptable. Be it education or your physician/hospital.
The question in my mind is, who is really being tested?
School are under the “public/government spotlight” and testing is one way to validate their importance (or need).
Again, the “cure” is worse than the ailment.
One test can be comprehensive enough to find out whatever you looking for.
Cmon, what is a test really going to show for a youngster. That they haven’t made a career decision, yet?!
This is what so sad about the validation process. The ones it is suppose to help the most, it hurts.
One suggestion is to make sure student recognize and accept
TEST DO NOT DEFINE THEM!!!!!
It is just a measuring tool, like a ruler. DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR ‘SMARTS”, just, capture at that point in time, what you retain.
You could have a “bad day” and your score is lousy (STILL NO BIG DEAL)
and next day you are a newly discovered Einstein (E=MC2)
Ok, I do go on. Here is what I suspect. Testing, even unnecessary testing will continue.
So the position is the EDUCATE the child about the test purpose ( to measure not define) and let them know it is not the “end all to end all ” it is JUST A TEST!!!!
May 27, 2011 at 10:25 pm |
I agree…test do not define our youngsters.
August 18, 2011 at 10:53 pm |
Exactly…test DO NOT DEFINE THEM.