Reply to SAT day time wasters

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Reply to "SAT day time wasters"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][b]You know, stuff like this really gets at the heart of why chronic absenteeism is the problem that it is in MCPS.[/b]

To accommodate "free SAT testing" for MCPS juniors, we've disrupted and lost a whole instructional day for three other grade levels. The substitute activities range from somewhat worthy (Mock AP exams for those taking AP classes) to unworthy (unstructured "study halls" that kids just nap or play games in).

Because the schools know that these substitute activities are a joke, they informally tell students and parents that their kids can either stay home for the testing portion of the day or stay home altogether, since even the abbreviated classes that do happen aren't likely to cover critical material on what is essentially a half-day.

We should go back to SAT testing happening outside of the normal school day. I'm not convinced the juice of offering it for free to everyone is worth the squeeze.[/quote]

That ain't it.[/quote]

But it is. The inconsistency and incongruity in MCPS message tells kids the truth. You can't on the one hand, in BS messaging like this insist that every day of school attendance counts and matters:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxR_SFHJST0[/youtube]

And then informally tell students and families that they should skip school on testing days like this.[/quote]

No it isn't. There are many reasons students are absent from school. "It must be ok to be absent because there's nothing much going on at school on the day MCPS administers the SAT to juniors, if you're not a junior" is not one of them.[/quote]

You don't get it. You can't say "every day matters" and then say "sometimes it doesn't." The statement attending school every day matters is either true or it isn't. And if it isn't, MCPS shouldn't say it.

They should say, "Most days matter, but some days don't." Because that's the actual reality and it's what MCPS is communicating in its actions and that's what parents and families are acting on. This inconsistency and talking out of both sides of the mouth is a big contributing factor as to why kids are picking and choosing the days they THINK they need to be in school, as opposed to believing they SHOULD be in school everyday, because everyday they're learning something valuable.[/quote]

You know, I am definitely on the take-things-literally end of the spectrum, but you have me beat all hollow.[/quote]

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