I hate that TAKS makes teachers feel like they haven't done their jobs properly. What's worse is when the administrators put undue pressure on their teachers or judge them according to their students' test results. When I taught juniors (exit level TAKS), I had one class that performed beautifully! I think 98% of them passed. In my other class, I had something like 74% pass. I used the same strategies in both classes. There was little variation in my teaching. So why the huge difference?
Because kids are all different!
I read in the Arlington Star Telegram that over 40,000 kids in Texas did not graduate this year because of TAKS. This is an indication that there is something wrong with the test and the system, not the teachers.
I find it wildly hilarious that W thinks he is improving the national educational system with policies that hurt the teachers and the children (see No Child Left Behind, for example), and he comes from the state that is low man on the totem pole (nationally)as far as education is concerned. What are we? Third from the bottom?
There is a bright spot, though. TAKS is on its way out, at least for higher levels, and so is W. Maybe there is hope for education.All of that means that it isn't about how well you do your job!
When I interviewed at my high school, I asked my wonderful principal, "How are the TAKS scores at AHS?" He said, "Oh, I can't remember. I think the results are buried on my desk somewhere." I grinned and knew that I wanted to work for him. He also constantly talks about the fact the what's important to our kids is not a test that tells them whether or not they can take a test well. What's important is the character building and the experiences they take with them into the real world.
That's not to say that curriculum is not important. It is! It just means that there is no pressure to teach to the test. It turns out that our school is one of the top ten schools in the metroplex. We are among the top 10 who have the fewest number of kids who need remedial classes when they get to college. Is there a correlation between not teaching to the TAKS and college preparedness? I am starting to think so.
I do think there needs to be some sort of standard for graduation, and I think there needs to be some sort of measure of teacher effectiveness in the classroom. Both of these make for better students and teachers. The TAKS test is not that measure for either.
Whew.
The point is:
HEY TEACHERS!
Don't worry about those stupid numbers. They really don't say anything about you OR about your kids.
Oh and Happy Summer in 5 days!
3 comments:
I totally agree with you. I have hated this test since the first year I started teaching. I think it is unfair to expect a bunch of 8 year olds to perform well on a standarized test. I almost feel as if we are forced to teach to the test, instead of teaching the important things in life.
Most of these kids do not have the stamina to sit still all day and take this test. I had one student (severly ADD) who sat there testing until 6:30 pm for both the reading and math tests. He didn't finish either test, but luckily still managed to pass the test. He would probably be commended if he could finish the test.
As for NCLB, even if a child doesn't pass the test, they still get promoted to the next grade. These children continue to fail the test year after year, and continue to get pushed through grade after grade. As a result, we end up with 40,000 Seniors who are not able to graduate.
Well said Ginger! I completely agree!! I hate that stupid test! I agree with you that there should be a standard to graduation and a grade level exit but I don't feel the TAKs test is the answer. As our professor says its the high stakes factor that messes it all up!
I am right there with you. It is not any different than the standardized tests here in AZ. We just call it by a differnt name, AIMS (Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards).
I am not a teacher, but as you know, I grew up with educators all around me. And, now that I have kids of my own, I see it from a parents perspective. I do NOT like it that the teachers have to take a lot of their time (and the kids) just to teach to the test. What wasted time! And, I do not like it that the kids are made sit hours on end to take these tests. I do not feel it is fair, specially to the younger elementary ones, who have a lot more "wiggles". .
I know that tests llike these are manditory, however I feel that a lot of the pressure for these tests, or lake there of, all really comes from your administration and how they feel and run things in the school. You are fortunate, Ginger, to have a good principal that does not recvolve the whole school around the tests and ultimatly the scores. Unlike us here at my kids school where our principal is all wound up in teaching the tests and their scores. He even does not enforce that teachers provide any type of break or recess for their kids on a daily basis. Some kids in our school have gone most of the year without any recess at all, it just depends on the teacher. Pretty Sad!!
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