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You’re speaking my language! I want my students to leave high school ready for life, not just another test. It feels like we’re slowly shifting the focus, but I wish it would happen faster.
Rising Star
I agree. Teaching to the test is awful, and so many teachers feel obligated
Respectfully disagree. We need some national standard to measure the effects of our public schooling. Without standardized testing, what metrics do we have for measuring the effectiveness of teachers?? We can't all be left to our own devices
We need standards to measure every school/teacher (public and private) equally. Standardized testing has never defined me as a teacher (at an elementary level).
In theory I support that, as the tests become the purpose. Teachers were just teaching the test, and were often encouraged to do that. But before we had the tests, no one was really sure what a diploma represented as schools could vary so much. So there will always have to be some standard imposed, however that will resolve itself.
I believe most kids WERE taught more usable skills before mass standardized tests. But also being able to fail non-performing students more than just one year made a huge difference too. It ensured students were not being passed along before they had better mastery of subject matter. Sometimes additional years of brain development are all that are needed to make a HUGE difference in ability to grasp concepts.
Truly, I think the change in educational techniques (teaching methods, curriculum styles, and mandatory SPED immersion) over the last 30 years have caused the problems we are seeing today with our end product - poorly prepared adults.
Rising Star
I hope that someday this is reality, but I can't see it developing without other requirements or testing that might be worse.
In PA very few high school subjects are tested… (algebra 1, one year of ELA, and biology only) and as a tested teacher in a “high ranking” district I feel immense pressure by admin to maintain our building and district scores. Most of my colleagues are not tested and do not feel the same pressure… which can be very frustrating. Now, I do not feel I ‘teach to a test’, but do make sure my curriculum covers all eligible test content… and more. I often wish the tests would go away. That said, I know I am a better teacher today then I would have been if I hadn’t been tested for the past 13 years. My curriculum planning, lesson design, and desire to keep getting better every year (even during COVID or in the second half of my career) is still a driving force every day! I also find my classroom management, class time management, expectations of students, and increased communication with parents are all directly or indirectly impacted by being tested. I could argue this either way. A part of me feels lucky to be tested… as crazy as that sounds.
Rising Star
In a time where so many students don't even care or try, we are being tested and labeled as failures if students test low. Even if we are teaching to the tests, jumping through all the right hoops, presenting engaging lessons, etc.
Yessssssss!!!!!