. I think children going through the US school system should exhibit some degree of proficiency in certain subjects deemed important.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I'm a teacher and a parent. I don't like SOL's for my child or for my students.


That's because you know they're a reflection on you.

Not either PP. Retired teacher here. The tests are a mess and ruining education. The teachers are teaching to the tests because that is what they are directed to do. Their jobs depend on it. Good teachers try to get around it, but there is no avoiding it. If you think these tests are a good thing, then you have no understanding of what they are or what they mean.

If you are a baker and your pay depends only on how well you bake a coconut cake--what are you going to spend your time practicing? Chocolate? Maybe a little. Pound cake? Sometimes. But, you are going to spend most of your time perfecting the coconut cake. Sure, you might even bake a batch of cookies now and then, but most of the time will be spent on coconut cake.

Education is the same way. The teachers and schools are being judged on how well their students pass a test. If something is not tested, it may be presented to the kids--but will it really be emphasized and taught? Just be sure the kids know how to fill in bubbles.

The tests reflect what is in the curriculum. So by saying they "teach the test" you mean they teach the curriculum. Which is how it should be.

You seem to forget that teacher quality had gone downhill. That's what this is all about. The notion that the "teachers know best" as a monolith is ridiculous. Yes, there are good teachers, but not ALL of them are good. What teachers fear more than anything is accountability (which is what teachers' unions were beginning to protect them from). So, spare me. I remember what brought this all on in the first place. It wasn't pretty.

Anonymous wrote:

I'm a teacher and a parent. I don't like SOL's for my child or for my students.


That's because you know they're a reflection on you.

Not either PP. Retired teacher here. The tests are a mess and ruining education. The teachers are teaching to the tests because that is what they are directed to do. Their jobs depend on it. Good teachers try to get around it, but there is no avoiding it. If you think these tests are a good thing, then you have no understanding of what they are or what they mean.

If you are a baker and your pay depends only on how well you bake a coconut cake--what are you going to spend your time practicing? Chocolate? Maybe a little. Pound cake? Sometimes. But, you are going to spend most of your time perfecting the coconut cake. Sure, you might even bake a batch of cookies now and then, but most of the time will be spent on coconut cake.

Education is the same way. The teachers and schools are being judged on how well their students pass a test. If something is not tested, it may be presented to the kids--but will it really be emphasized and taught? Just be sure the kids know how to fill in bubbles.

Anonymous wrote:

They do that already. They are called year at a glance and pacing guides. How do you find out if the teacher has taught them and if the students understand them? Our principal lets her teachers do what they want for the most part and she doesn't review the student's work.

Not the same thing. The tests are more important. You really don't get that, do you? The teachers and school are being judged on what the test scores are.

Anonymous wrote:

And in your analogy of the baker, we should have more SOL tests for diversity of learning, not less.

No. You should give the baker a list of things he should be able to bake and let him figure it out. The teachers know how to teach. We don't need to have high stakes testing.

Anonymous wrote:

And in your analogy of the baker, we should have more SOL tests for diversity of learning, not less.


No. You should give the baker a list of things he should be able to bake and let him figure it out. The teachers know how to teach. We don't need to have high stakes testing.

Exactly. The idea of having more tests is ridiculous. You will only get the prescribed cakes even with more tests. Meanwhile, a great teacher has an idea for a lemon strawberry cake, but that cake is not on the list. That could be a very popular and interesting cake, but it will not be baked. Ever.

Anonymous wrote:

They do that already. They are called year at a glance and pacing guides. How do you find out if the teacher has taught them and if the students understand them? Our principal lets her teachers do what they want for the most part and she doesn't review the student's work.

Not the same thing. The tests are more important. You really don't get that, do you? The teachers and school are being judged on what the test scores are.

And in your analogy of the baker, we should have more SOL tests for diversity of learning, not less.


No. You should give the baker a list of things he should be able to bake and let him figure it out. The teachers know how to teach. We don't need to have high stakes testing.

They do that already. They are called year at a glance and pacing guides. How do you find out if the teacher has taught them and if the students understand them? Our principal lets her teachers do what they want for the most part and she doesn't review the student's work.

Anonymous wrote:

And in your analogy of the baker, we should have more SOL tests for diversity of learning, not less.

No. You should give the baker a list of things he should be able to bake and let him figure it out. The teachers know how to teach. We don't need to have high stakes testing.

And in your analogy of the baker, we should have more SOL tests for diversity of learning, not less.