Testing.....Testing.....1,2,3....

It's getting close to that time of year again.  I'm talking about Standardized Testing people!  The magical test that will predict, with the accuracy of the psychic down the street, whether your students will be a success or not!  The test that judges how effective you are as a teacher.  The test that gives conclusive evidence of your students' learning and knowledge.  The magical test can also, apparently, determine whether your principal is effective or not.  Jobs may be lost, teachers may be moved around, and parents may be either rejoicing in their child's genius status, or wallowing in the certain future that their little darlin' will have a career as a widget polisher.

To quote any available teenage girl "I hate DRAMA!". However, also like any available teenage girl, I am involved in the drama and here I go spreading my version of it all over the web!

I am not opposed to testing at all.  That is how the world operates and we need to prepare our students to be participants in this reality.  Jobs interviews often include some sort of aptitude test.  There are tests to get into graduate level schooling.  Tests for entry into the military,  Tests for doctors, lawyers, teachers etc. to ensure that the professional has the knowledge required to practice in their field. Tests to get your driver's license. Testing is not a bad thing in and of itself.  So what makes Standardized Testing so controversial? 

I think it comes down to the cost/benefit analysis of Standardized Testing.  Has anyone ever completed a real cost/benefit analysis of this system?  Probably not, is my thought.   Has the cost of the test produced enough benefit to justify it's existence?  Does a standardized test fairly evaluate students who come to us with very un-standardized backgrounds?  Where is the data that justifies this enormous cost?

While the Office of Education will probably quote you statistics that show how tests scores have risen over the years (I've seen these very stats), does that take into account our changing global economy?  Are tests that test things such as spelling (thank you "SpellCheck") and literary response (objective and personal) really preparing our students for the future?  Are our students more prepared, thanks to standardized testing, to compete with students in Japan, China, Finland and other countries?  While these are great skills to have, are they really the most important things our students need for future success?  I would say NO!

What kinds of skills are the best predictors of future success then?  I would propose that the skills that truly can determine a person's future success are non-quantifiable.  Skills such as determination, friendliness, perseverance, ability to think outside of the box, non-conformity,  and self confidence.  How much time do we as educators, however, spend on developing these traits? How much time are we even allowed to think such thoughts? Alas, these skills cannot be bubbled in and run through a computer for evaluation, therefore, they are not stressed.

Now let's get into the inequity of the tests.  How many of us understand the varying backgrounds that our students are coming to school with?  Economic difficulties, family drama, and let's face it.....parental apathy in many cases.   I have found that parental involvement (proper parental involvement) is one of the strongest motivators for students.  Parents who are uninvolved in their child's school and school work are sending a very powerful message to their children.  "It doesn't really matter".  These parents are also denying their children some of the world's best lessons.  "Hard work pays off!", "Not everything is easy, but it's worth it", "You decide your future by the investments you make today", "Life is not always fair", "Discipline develops character" etc..etc. etc...  I could go on and on!

But who gets judged on the outcomes of the test?  Are parents held accountable at all?  Never!  That would be political suicide.  No.... let's blame the educators and administrators.  Let's tear down their self-confidence and pile on more testing.  Let's put their jobs on the line, thereby creating more incentive for cheating.  Let's take away creativity in the curriculum and focus only on Language Arts and Math.  Let's make school more and more unpleasant everyday until those Damn Test Scores go up each and every year!  Let's make teaching a systematic routine and take away personality and creativity.  Let's allow parents to criticize and judge teacher performance because we are too afraid of a lawsuit.  Let's allow bad teachers to remain because again, we are too afraid of a lawsuit.

I know I've listed many of the "costs" of standardized testing.  So what are the benefits?  Well I guess I would say that at least it does test every student on the same content based on the same standards.  We should all be more knowledgeable of the standards that we are required to teach.  How do we teach them effectively though?  How do we create more benefit?

I would propose that we cut the Standardized testing in half.  Only test every two years and use the money saved to provide QUALITY professional development.  Let's get our teachers up to date on the latest technologies and strategies available.  Let's build up our teachers.  Let's support our teachers and hold our students and parents more accountable. Let's strengthen the foundation of education rather than building more wings and additions onto the already crumbling foundation. 

'I imagine a school system that recognizes learning is natural, that a love of learning is normal, and that real learning is passionate learning. A school curriculum that values questions above answers…creativity above fact regurgitation…individuality above conformity.. and excellence above standardized performance….. And we must reject all notions of 'reform' that serve up more of the same: more testing, more 'standards', more uniformity, more conformity, more bureaucracy. Tom Peters Author 'Re-imagine'

Now.....open your test booklet to page 1.  Make sure you have a number 2 pencil.. You have 25 minutes to complete.....Go!

Free Therapy Available Online!

Well, here it is.  My first blog post.  After reading and following several other blogs, I have decided that entering the world of blogging just might be therapeutic.  Teaching is one of those careers that suffers from so many misconceptions.  It is frustrating to talk with others sometimes about teaching.  Why the frustration? 

Teachers have been the subject of ridicule and the target of blame in the news over the last several years.  While I am painfully aware that there are indeed "bad teachers" out there, most teachers I know are hard-working and caring people.  These few "bad teachers" have tarnished the rest of us.

But there has been another, larger, factor that has tarnished our reputation. It's the teachers out there who do the bare minimum.  You all know these teachers.  They are the ones who arrive just as the duty day begins and leave at exactly the minute the duty day ends.  They refuse to do anything above and beyond their contract.  Papers go ungraded, lesson plans are minimal and full of busy work, there is very little rigor in their day. They often have movie days so they can use school time to grade and correct papers.

Now wait just a minute you might say.  Teachers need to "work to rule" in order to convince districts, parents and government to re-evaluate teacher contracts and let the public know how much personal time is devoted to teaching. 

Well, I would agree with this tactic in times of serious negotiations.  I am the LAST person who wants a district to impose even MORE duties and responsibilities on my already overloaded day.  Trust me!  I know teachers are expected to do far more with far less these days.  Let me be clear.  I am NOT talking about coordinated efforts to deliver a message.  I am in complete favor of that!  I am talking about the teachers who, regardless of the current negotiating situation, will ALWAYS do the bare minimum because that is just their mindset.  I am talking about the teachers who look at their job as just a means to make a living.  They might as well be assembling widgets.  There is no passion or desire to motivate, educate and inspire. I am a strong believer that our teacher unions need to do a better job at allowing "bad teachers" to be fired.  Let's face it.  These truly "bad teachers" are hurting us and damaging the reputation of teaching.  

Did the system cause this?  Did they enter the profession feeling this way?  I like to think that most teachers enter the field full of hope, energy and dedication.  I know that I felt that way.  It's one of the reasons I love going to teaching conferences and seminars.  It reignites that passion that I remember.  It motivates me to try new things and re-emphasizes the importance of my job. I work harder and, I like to think smarter, after attending a really great conference.  But inevitably, the difficulties of the job itself, gradually wear away that passion and drive again.  The daily stresses start their damage and I find myself searching the job postings once again in the evening.

Students know if their teacher truly cares about them.  Students know if a teacher is prepared or unprepared.  Students know if their teacher expects and holds them to high expectations and standards. As a result of students knowing these things, parents also know these things.  As teachers, we all know the power of the parent gossip network!  Reputations can sometimes be made or broken based on parent conversations.  Is this fair?  Of course not.  Teachers need protections from unfair accusations that are based on rumor alone.  But like it or not, we are making an impression on the public one way or another.  We need to start being our own best marketing managers. We need to start getting people excited about what is going on in public schools.  In spite of budgets and other economic struggles, somehow, someway, we have to create hope and trust once again. 

Now the big question though that I wish I had the answer for.  How do we do this when there are not enough resources?  How do we do this when students increasingly arrive to school with major problems in the home?  How do we do this when there is little parental support for discipline in the school?  How do we stay motivated and energized when we are increasingly expected to teach to a meaningless test?  How do we keep that creativity alive when we are now told exactly what we can and cannot say or do?

Perhaps, by now, you see the need I feel for some therapy! :)  I'm sure I am not alone with my frustrations.  I suppose I could find another job, but would I feel that I am doing something worthwhile?  Would I feel that I am making a contribution to the world?

Thankfully, there are those moments in teaching when everything seems worth it.  When a former student stops by to tell you what great memories they have of their time in your class.  When a student finally "gets it" and starts succeeding in an area that was difficult for them. There are those time when a parent sincerely thanks you at the end of the year and tells you what a difference you made in their child's attitude about school. These fleeting moments are what keeps me here for now.  Whether I can continue to "stay the course" or not, I just don't know.

That will be $300.00 for today's session please.  Thank you