Standardized Testing - Yet Again

[mrblonde17]

I'm a high school teacher, so I'll give you guys a perspective that may or may not be new.

Not a single one of you have touched on an issue that doesn't seem to get any attention. The groups that lobby for these standardized test are very often the same people that design and sell these tests to the state. Standardized testing is a multi-million dollar industry. I look at these tests as a slap in the face. I have a professional degree in every subject I teach and a teaching certification. I know what I'm teaching, I know how to teach it, and what I teach is valuable. Standardized testing assumes two things: 1) students are standardized, meaning that they all learn the same subjects the same way to the same degree; and 2) as teachers, either we're not doing our job adequately and/or they just don't trust us. All students learn to different degrees and some do better in certain subject areas. I stunk the joint up in math, but I graduated from SWT with a 3.9. My SATs and ACTs weren't great either. Standardized testing takes account of none of this.

I also take offense to the idea that educators insert a political bias into their teaching. One of the classes I teach is journalism, so I know something about being objective. The majority of teachers I know in both high school and university do an excellent job of presenting ideas from as many perspectives as possible. We got into teaching because we're passionate about what we teach, we enjoy working with the kids, and we want to help future generations succeed. It certainly isn't because we're trying to push an agenda onto the minds of kids.

Actually, I got into teaching to make lots of money!!

[Clandestino]

I'm a high school teacher, so I'll give you guys a perspective that may or may not be new.

Not a single one of you have touched on an issue that doesn't seem to get any attention. The groups that lobby for these standardized test are very often the same people that design and sell these tests to the state. Standardized testing is a multi-million dollar industry. I look at these tests as a slap in the face. I have a professional degree in every subject I teach and a teaching certification. I know what I'm teaching, I know how to teach it, and what I teach is valuable. Standardized testing assumes two things: 1) students are standardized, meaning that they all learn the same subjects the same way to the same degree; and 2) as teachers, either we're not doing our job adequately and/or they just don't trust us. All students learn to different degrees and some do better in certain subject areas. I stunk the joint up in math, but I graduated from SWT with a 3.9. My SATs and ACTs weren't great either. Standardized testing takes account of none of this.

I also take offense to the idea that educators insert a political bias into their teaching. One of the classes I teach is journalism, so I know something about being objective. The majority of teachers I know in both high school and university do an excellent job of presenting ideas from as many perspectives as possible. We got into teaching because we're passionate about what we teach, we enjoy working with the kids, and we want to help future generations succeed. It certainly isn't because we're trying to push an agenda onto the minds of kids.

Actually, I got into teaching to make lots of money!!

not all teachers are the same... that is another reason for standardized testing...

[travis2]

I'm a high school teacher, so I'll give you guys a perspective that may or may not be new.

Not a single one of you have touched on an issue that doesn't seem to get any attention. The groups that lobby for these standardized test are very often the same people that design and sell these tests to the state. Standardized testing is a multi-million dollar industry. I look at these tests as a slap in the face. I have a professional degree in every subject I teach and a teaching certification. I know what I'm teaching, I know how to teach it, and what I teach is valuable. Standardized testing assumes two things: 1) students are standardized, meaning that they all learn the same subjects the same way to the same degree; and 2) as teachers, either we're not doing our job adequately and/or they just don't trust us. All students learn to different degrees and some do better in certain subject areas. I stunk the joint up in math, but I graduated from SWT with a 3.9. My SATs and ACTs weren't great either. Standardized testing takes account of none of this.

I also take offense to the idea that educators insert a political bias into their teaching. One of the classes I teach is journalism, so I know something about being objective. The majority of teachers I know in both high school and university do an excellent job of presenting ideas from as many perspectives as possible. We got into teaching because we're passionate about what we teach, we enjoy working with the kids, and we want to help future generations succeed. It certainly isn't because we're trying to push an agenda onto the minds of kids.

Actually, I got into teaching to make lots of money!!

My mom was a high school math/science teacher. My mother-in-law was an elementary teacher.

When you say "we", you are talking about the teachers who want to be there, who really care about teaching. That's great.

But you know and I know that not every teacher is like you. You know and I know that a significant percentage just don't give a $h!t. You know and I know that not every teacher has the educational background in their "subjects" that you do or my mom did.

And it's the incompetents that will use every trick in the book with the teachers unions and other lobbyists to keep things as simple as possible for themselves.

And if you don't think that there are teachers/professors out there who punish students for their views, then you are not as intelligent or widely read as you think. I applaud you for your objectivity, but to imply that every teacher is just like you is frankly idiotic. I know better because I've seen it personally and I've done the research as well. I'm sorry you're offended but there's a real world outside of your own well-run classroom that doesn't subscribe to your way of doing things.

[mrblonde17]

Of course there are bad teachers. We're no different than any other profession. I know people that get into education because of summers off. Those people don't tend to last too long. Most bad teachers get weeded out of a particular school district quickly. However, because there aren't enough qualified people joining the ranks, the bad teachers will always have a home in some district that is short on math and science teachers. English and fine arts teachers are a bit easier to find.

I know many teachers. My parents still teach. The majority of them are quality individuals that bring nothing but professionalism and objectivity to the classroom. There are many issues that need to be addressed in public education. Standardized testing is certainly one of them.

I'm interested in your "research" Travis. What do you do for a living and what kind of research was it?

[mrblonde17]

One more thing. We don't have a union in Texas. It's illegal for us to unionize.

Bummer!!

[Nbadan]

I'm interested in your "research" Travis. What do you do for a living and what kind of research was it?

Research for Travis means he probably read it on Newsmax or The Weekly Standard. Don't expect any real answers.

Fact is, the state and the feds have very stringent standards for the TAKS testing environment. Teachers don't test their own classes alone. All classroom materials, such as bulletin boards, and books must be covered or removed and all chalk boards must be completely erased. There is a required amount of class-room moniters present when testing materials are not locked up. All moniters are required to 'actively' observe the class being tested (no grading papers or reading books allowed).

If the State or the Feds catch a class-room moniter not following these requirements its not only their jobs on the line - its their certification. I would say that this is a pretty tough incentive for most teachers not to cheat.

Doesn't mean I'm pro-standardized testing, but just thought I would clear up some misconceptions that were floating around in this thread about the testing atmosphere.

[travis2]

Of course there are bad teachers. We're no different than any other profession. I know people that get into education because of summers off. Those people don't tend to last too long. Most bad teachers get weeded out of a particular school district quickly. However, because there aren't enough qualified people joining the ranks, the bad teachers will always have a home in some district that is short on math and science teachers. English and fine arts teachers are a bit easier to find.

I know many teachers. My parents still teach. The majority of them are quality individuals that bring nothing but professionalism and objectivity to the classroom. There are many issues that need to be addressed in public education. Standardized testing is certainly one of them.

I'm interested in your "research" Travis. What do you do for a living and what kind of research was it?

My "research" is personal, not academic. It consists of keeping track of news stories and my own personal experiences. And contrary to what those in the foil-hat crowd tell you, I don't depend on NewsMax or Weekly Standard, although I do hit the latter every so often. (At least I don't try to pass off random blogs written by drug-addled losers as primary sources)

My job is as an engineer. BS, MS, 20 years in the field, working on a PhD. Oh, and I'm still working...I'm not unemployed, I didn't quit to go to school, I wasn't forced into it. (That was to forestall the obvious slaps from the wackos around here)

I would agree with you that standardized testing is the easy way out. Unfortunately, you still need concrete standards to test against even without "standardized" tests. Again, that makes things hard for teachers. It sounds like you wouldn't have a problem with it. Would that the entire profession were like that.

Oh...BTW...what do you call the TSTA and TFT if not unions? Besides, I also said "other lobbyists". And the fight is not only in Texas, but nationally.

[NameDropper]

I think the problems with kids today can be traced back to when women started really joining the work force and kids stopped having the nurturing that a stay at home mom, or dad, had on their lives.
Now the race for the benjamins is more important.

[mrblonde17]

TSTA is a lobbying organization at best. They are for the most part toothless. It is against the law for public employees in Texas to have a union.