Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Honestly, I don't think the people who want to opt out really CAN articulate why, except to mutter things about teaching the test and "testing-industrial complex" and some vague anger over Common Core and the fact that long division is taught using the partial quotient method instead of the "right way" as they learned it. The Tea Party types have really done a number on demonizing "Common Core." Between that and romanticizes notions of our past, viewed with rose-colored glasses, it really boils down to anxiety that our kids are being taught differently than we are [i]and we don't like that.

We seem to have forgotten that we had standardized tests when we were kids (we always took the Stanford Achievement Tests), were agitating only 15 years ago about failing American education lagging behind Asian countries in particular (where testing was and remains de rigueur).

It's bonkers.

Reflexively linking concern about PARCC (in its current state) to the Tea Party is what's bonkers. Especially when several posters have been abundantly clear about what their real concerns are.

OP here.

Our principal has said PARCC is:

- "not the best" - "being diplomatic"
- at this point tests computer skills as much as content
- an adaptive test would have been far better (and one is available, but wasn't selected - a lot of politics and money behind Pearson -- directly from the principal)
- the school will not put any stock in the test this year and maybe even next year
- goal is to provide real point of comparison year to year and btwn districts, but with only 10 states now participating, unclear if that goal will ever be met


The above -- NOT AN AVERSION TO STANDARDIZED TESTING, NOR ANY IDEOLOGY -- is what has me concerned.

Strange to me that so many people just accept anything handed to them by the public school system and/or make up their minds based on their political affiliation. Bizarre. Critical thinkingisgood a good thing -- and I'm pretty sure something that common core (at least in theory) is meant to foster.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Honestly, I don't think the people who want to opt out really CAN articulate why, except to mutter things about teaching the test and "testing-industrial complex" and some vague anger over Common Core and the fact that long division is taught using the partial quotient method instead of the "right way" as they learned it. The Tea Party types have really done a number on demonizing "Common Core." Between that and romanticizes notions of our past, viewed with rose-colored glasses, it really boils down to anxiety that our kids are being taught differently than we are [i]and we don't like that.

We seem to have forgotten that we had standardized tests when we were kids (we always took the Stanford Achievement Tests), were agitating only 15 years ago about failing American education lagging behind Asian countries in particular (where testing was and remains de rigueur).

It's bonkers.

Leave the Tea Party out of it. It's as much Teacher Union anti-testing as anything else. Plenty of crazy to go around, apparently.

I'm politically progressive and the proud daughter of a 30 year teacher and NEA member. I work with young people in an urban school district. Testing culture does nothing to improve their lives or get them the academic skills the desperately need. But our school systems are pouring money and time (teacher time, instructional time) into these tests. We already know the kid are failing. We need to put our resources into using some of the many teaching techniques that actually work, getting kids the resources they need to be healthy and happy outside of school, and addressing systemic corruption in urban school systems (and I know amazing teachers and administrators but they are brought down and driven out by the power grabbers and clock punchers). Testing does nothing to solve the problems in our schools. We already know school are failing. Stop testing and start teaching.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Honestly, I don't think the people who want to opt out really CAN articulate why, except to mutter things about teaching the test and "testing-industrial complex" and some vague anger over Common Core and the fact that long division is taught using the partial quotient method instead of the "right way" as they learned it. The Tea Party types have really done a number on demonizing "Common Core." Between that and romanticizes notions of our past, viewed with rose-colored glasses, it really boils down to anxiety that our kids are being taught differently than we are [i]and we don't like that.

We seem to have forgotten that we had standardized tests when we were kids (we always took the Stanford Achievement Tests), were agitating only 15 years ago about failing American education lagging behind Asian countries in particular (where testing was and remains de rigueur).

It's bonkers.

Leave the Tea Party out of it. It's as much Teacher Union anti-testing as anything else. Plenty of crazy to go around, apparently.

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Honestly, I don't think the people who want to opt out really CAN articulate why, except to mutter things about teaching the test and "testing-industrial complex" and some vague anger over Common Core and the fact that long division is taught using the partial quotient method instead of the "right way" as they learned it. The Tea Party types have really done a number on demonizing "Common Core." Between that and romanticizes notions of our past, viewed with rose-colored glasses, it really boils down to anxiety that our kids are being taught differently than we are [i]and we don't like that.

We seem to have forgotten that we had standardized tests when we were kids (we always took the Stanford Achievement Tests), were agitating only 15 years ago about failing American education lagging behind Asian countries in particular (where testing was and remains de rigueur).

It's bonkers.

Anonymous wrote:I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Exactly. Would someone please clarify and articulate that. Why exactly is this so BAD? (All-caps just a reply to the original assertion.)

I think you need to look in the mirror on the hate side. This thread is full of hate and anger toward the test... But, nobody has yet articulated anything SPECIFICALLY bad about the test. That tends to tell me it's not really about the test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of opting out is a form of civil disobedience, not necessarily protecting one's own child from bogus scores, stress whatever.

If enough parents opt out on principle the test becomes null and void. It forces a re thinking of this particular test and the generalized testing culture.

I also work in a school and it all does stink. Follow the money on this. It leads to testing companies, curriculum writers and the tech companies providing hardware, software and consultants.

Ditto

+1 I don't send my child to school in order to have her work for free for a testing company. It think the testing-industrial complex is corrupt and it diverts resources and educational time from our children.

Couldn't agree more!

You all are a bunch of flipping idiots. Prattling on nonsensically about "testing-industrial complex" and the like. Do you also believe in Area 51 and FEMA reeducation camps? How right-wing can you get? Go thump your Bibles or something.

God, I hate conservatives. And to think 15 years ago they were wringing their hands over American education falling behind the accomplishments of the rest of the world.

Wow. Anger management, maybe??

I have a concern about this test. Brace yourself: I am not a conservative!

Jump to conclusions much??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of opting out is a form of civil disobedience, not necessarily protecting one's own child from bogus scores, stress whatever.

If enough parents opt out on principle the test becomes null and void. It forces a re thinking of this particular test and the generalized testing culture.

I also work in a school and it all does stink. Follow the money on this. It leads to testing companies, curriculum writers and the tech companies providing hardware, software and consultants.

Ditto

+1 I don't send my child to school in order to have her work for free for a testing company. It think the testing-industrial complex is corrupt and it diverts resources and educational time from our children.

Couldn't agree more!

You all are a bunch of flipping idiots. Prattling on nonsensically about "testing-industrial complex" and the like. Do you also believe in Area 51 and FEMA reeducation camps? How right-wing can you get? Go thump your Bibles or something.

God, I hate conservatives. And to think 15 years ago they were wringing their hands over American education falling behind the accomplishments of the rest of the world.

Pull yourself together, crazy lady. I'm a conservative, and I have no issue here. You, however, are having a fit. You're not exactly an ambassador for your side.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For goodness sake.

opining that the PARCC test has serious problems DOES NOT mean that standardized testing itself is a problem

Yes, our educational leaders and even our teachers are not willing/able to take a stand or speak out without risking their livelihoods and their ability to teach their students. That is PRECISELY why it is up to parents to take a stand. Perhaps by opting out but certainly by becoming informed and lobbying leadership

OP here. EXACTLY!!! Thank you!!

How many times can one say "I am not against standardized testing in general -- PARCC, at least now, is a BAD TEST."

Why? What makes it so BAD?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of opting out is a form of civil disobedience, not necessarily protecting one's own child from bogus scores, stress whatever.

If enough parents opt out on principle the test becomes null and void. It forces a re thinking of this particular test and the generalized testing culture.

I also work in a school and it all does stink. Follow the money on this. It leads to testing companies, curriculum writers and the tech companies providing hardware, software and consultants.

Ditto

+1 I don't send my child to school in order to have her work for free for a testing company. It think the testing-industrial complex is corrupt and it diverts resources and educational time from our children.

Couldn't agree more!

You all are a bunch of flipping idiots. Prattling on nonsensically about "testing-industrial complex" and the like. Do you also believe in Area 51 and FEMA reeducation camps? How right-wing can you get? Go thump your Bibles or something.

God, I hate conservatives. And to think 15 years ago they were wringing their hands over American education falling behind the accomplishments of the rest of the world.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of opting out is a form of civil disobedience, not necessarily protecting one's own child from bogus scores, stress whatever.

If enough parents opt out on principle the test becomes null and void. It forces a re thinking of this particular test and the generalized testing culture.

I also work in a school and it all does stink. Follow the money on this. It leads to testing companies, curriculum writers and the tech companies providing hardware, software and consultants.

Ditto

+1 I don't send my child to school in order to have her work for free for a testing company. It think the testing-industrial complex is corrupt and it diverts resources and educational time from our children.

Couldn't agree more!

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone figured out how we opt out?

I'm working on it -- will report back here when I know more... I think a couple of other posters were checking with OSSE as well...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of opting out is a form of civil disobedience, not necessarily protecting one's own child from bogus scores, stress whatever.

If enough parents opt out on principle the test becomes null and void. It forces a re thinking of this particular test and the generalized testing culture.

I also work in a school and it all does stink. Follow the money on this. It leads to testing companies, curriculum writers and the tech companies providing hardware, software and consultants.

Ditto

+1 I don't send my child to school in order to have her work for free for a testing company. It think the testing-industrial complex is corrupt and it diverts resources and educational time from our children.

Has anyone figured out how we opt out?