Reply to How do I opt my child out of testing

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]One more time. People in the opt-out movement aren't "afraid of the test" for their own child. They are rightly concerned about the quality of THE PARCC test ( not all standardized testing) in terms of its validity.  And also in terms of how high stakes tests that aren't well made will effect school culture, teacher latitude for creativity, early childhood education, narrowing of the curriculum and manufactured failure for children so tech companies can come in a "save the day".

For what its worth, it isn't just parents.  It is school officials, assessment experts and experienced educators across the whole country who have similar concerns.

So you can take your whole "scaredy-cat-parent" schtick and shove off.[/quote]I'd happily advocate for well structured, appropriate tests. I've been following the anti-testers for a while though, and it seems there is no test which ever makes them happy. And the testing companies do not ever save the day, they offer a new and improved test, or books and prep materials. :roll:   I've seen several posts about the anxiety the tests supposedly create in the poster"s child, and I'd suggest the parent look close to home for the source of that anxiety or at the specific teacher
[/quote]

So far as I can recall this is the first time that someone supporting NCLB testing has acknowledged that parents and  home actually affect student learning.  Interesting that it comes out only in blaming parents for the audacity of questioning the value of the tests.[/quote]I think it's perfectly clear that parents and home affect student learning, but they also affect student stress. I'd bet that the child whose parents don't even ask about the test has a different perception from the one whose parents ask repeatedly "Is your test tomorrow? Did you have a test today? How was the test? Did you understand the test? Did you finish the test?"

I believe testing is an essential tool to ensure quality of education, but I also acknowledge that some tests are duds (and I speak as a former teacher).
Would you drive a car which was never independently tested? Just rely on the manufacturers, because clearly they made the car themselves and are professionals?
Would you take medications from a lab which had never been tested and verified for content and potency by an outside agency?
Why is education such a 'hands off and let the teachers do their thing' business?[/quote]

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