Reply to How do I opt my child out of testing

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It's not anti testing. Tests are important the anger and frustration is at these tests and at Pearson and how they have changed the public school experience. Why can't kids have more recess, gym, play, creative lesson plans for teachers? Because these stupid tests dominate and the teachers and principals need the kids to do well so they are scared to take time out of the day for important age appropriate work. Instead they want to max out on every moment of the school day to "teach to the test" so scores go up. Because teachers and principals are evaluated on these scores. For raises, job security etc... It's a terrible system and our kids are getting screwed. So, testing is fine - but it needs to be meaningful teacher designed assessment [/quote]

Then lobby against [u]Pearson[/u], or help promote or design a better test. I'm all for teacher creativity, but gluing crepe paper to paper plates shouldn't replace mastery of reading or addition. I personally think the school day is too long, and kids would focus better with more recess and PE.[/quote]

Seriously. the choice isn't between gluing crepe paper and taking standardized tests.  And parents shouldn't have to go into the test design business any more than they should be expected to go into the textbook writing business to assure a decent public school education for their children.  They also shouldn't be encouraged to skip direct contact with their kids' schools by lobbying against Pearson.  Parents can have a lot of clout on the local level -- if they use it[/quote]So if a parent doesn't like the tests, why not send a letter to the chancellor about the tests?
Or find some of the teachers and administrators whose expertise you respect and encourage them to create a better set of standards and a better test
Boycotting the tests does less to change things than either of those other acts[/quote]

a letter to the chancellor doesn't speak very loudly, neither does "encouraging" people to create better tests.  Both sounds like ways to make parents think they are doing something without really having any effect.   Opting out has an effect that  can't be ignored.[/quote]

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