Pearson went down for an hour during SOL's today

[Anonymous]

A statewide outage by for-profit testing giant Pearson meant that tens (or hundreds) of thousands of kids in Virginia today we're stuck staring at computer screens rather than learning, creating, exercising, or doing anything productive. In Fairfax alone, over 14,000 kids were supposed to be testing today. In our school, students couldn't submit their completed tests so they just had to sit there for an hour waiting for the problem to be fixed by Pearson. Teachers were told by the county that, for test security reasons, kids were not allowed to receive instruction or read during the outage.

14,000 hours of instruction lost today just in Fairfax schools thanks to Pearson (to say nothing of the many multiples of that lost to testing in general). Hmmm...I wonder if they will refund Virginia taxpayers any of the millions we're paying them? Somehow I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Pearson = Evil

[Anonymous]

That sucks. I hope it doesn't happen when my DS takes his tests. He is already nervous.

[Anonymous]

This has happened nearly every day of testing in my MD school. So much time has been wasted on this.

[Anonymous]

Network- I'm Mad as Hell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dib2-HBsF08

Maybe Be?

[Anonymous]

Yes, they couldn't read or leave. DS's lunch was delayed while they waited for the outage to end so they could finish the test. Infuriating.

[Anonymous]

Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

Most kids don't want to sit quietly for an hour and stare at a computer that doesn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

I'm a teacher, actually. The tests are already a huge waste of instructional time. It just kills me to be in a room with healthy, active kids who could be eager to learn if we weren't beauting it out of them every day with SOL prep, eCART tests, DRAs, SOLs, and today, just sit quietly and stare into space for an hour complete and total wastes of time. It's soul-sucking. It's not fair to any of us. Who benefits? The company that blew it today, that's who.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

I'm a teacher, actually. The tests are already a huge waste of instructional time. It just kills me to be in a room with healthy, active kids who could be eager to learn if we weren't beauting it out of them every day with SOL prep, eCART tests, DRAs, SOLs, and today, just sit quietly and stare into space for an hour complete and total wastes of time. It's soul-sucking. It's not fair to any of us. Who benefits? The company that blew it today, that's who.

+1,000
Honestly, I wish I could reverse time and put my DC in elementary school all over again - but in an alternate universe in which none of the above tests existed and kids were taught interesting and thought-provoking subjects. I would love to see my DC come home from school excited about everything s/he learned each day. That would be such a joy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

I'm a teacher, actually. The tests are already a huge waste of instructional time. It just kills me to be in a room with healthy, active kids who could be eager to learn if we weren't beauting it out of them every day with SOL prep, eCART tests, DRAs, SOLs, and today, just sit quietly and stare into space for an hour complete and total wastes of time. It's soul-sucking. It's not fair to any of us. Who benefits? The company that blew it today, that's who.

I completely agree!
-another teacher

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Funny thing is my DS was one of thekids affected, and he didn't seem to really care about it. I think parents love to complain a little to much over nada. Let it go!

I'm a teacher, actually. The tests are already a huge waste of instructional time. It just kills me to be in a room with healthy, active kids who could be eager to learn if we weren't beauting it out of them every day with SOL prep, eCART tests, DRAs, SOLs, and today, just sit quietly and stare into space for an hour complete and total wastes of time. It's soul-sucking. It's not fair to any of us. Who benefits? The company that blew it today, that's who.

Couldn't have said it better. Well done! Preach!

--a principal

[Anonymous]

The teachers and principals here don't like the test because it makes them accountable. The tests are needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers and principals here don't like the test because it makes them accountable. The tests are needed.

Looks like someone with Pearson stock has found DCUM.