Poll Of The Day

March 28, 2012 6:20 AM

Controversy rises over standardized testing.

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Ok, so yesterday was the start of the big STAAR test for public schools. A story came out last night that a McKinney mom opted to keep her children home from school and skip out on the STAAR test. We want to know what you think…Do you think this mom did the right thing?

Here’s the story…read it first, then make your decision.

[Source: wfaa.com]

http://kluv.radio.com/2012/03/28/as-heard-on-jody-dean-wednesday-03282012/ As Heard On Jody Dean: Wednesday, 03/28/2012

[...] 4. Poll of the Day [...]
kim

While I understand her point, her methods are wrong. If she wants to make a difference, the only way is to call her state legislator now and vote for new ones in the fall who support public schools. She didn’t hurt the system, She just hurt her kid and her kid’s school. How? An absent student counts as an automatic failure for the campus. Plus, when the reports come in that let each student know which TEKS they’re strong and weak in to help individualize her instruction in the future, hers will be blank.

Every grade/subject in Texas has a list of standards that they have to teach. That’s not a bad thing. The test covers those standards. Is that any different than a final exam? No. The problem is how the tests are used!!! That was Robert Scott’s point when he called the system a perversion of it’s original intent.

Here’s the bottom line: The legislators raised the bar on us the year they cut us $4billion and the Tea staff by 30%. Hello!!!! They want us to fail and it all goes back to 2006 when Perry’s voucher bills failed. He said it wasn’t over. That’s the same year they did the property tax swap, replacing it with margins taxes that Strayhorn told him wouldn’t produce! Google “strayhorn smoking gun letter” and you’ll see what I mean.

Ever notice how everyone is an expert on education just because they were students once? People have a right and reason to be upset, but not for the reasons they think. I wish people would educate themselves before making decisions and voicing opinions that only hurt teachers, schools, and kids, the people who have already been victimized.

Yes, I work in public ed and I actually know what I’m talking about.

Maria

The US education system really should take a look at the #1 education system in the world, Finland. In Finland, there is no kindergarten, students begin school at the age of 7, there are NO standardized tests until the age of 16. The high school dropout rate is 2%, versus USA’s 25%. Finland ranks #1 in science and math in the world, whereas USA ranks 17th in science and 24th in math. The average students speaks and writes 4 languages. They focus on equality of opportunity. There is no competitiveness and no private schools. Test scores prove that Finland’s education system is consistently Number 1 in the world. USA ranks between 15th and 19th place. Leaves me to wonder how important and successful really the STAAR testing is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlOfZL_J5fo

Jill

This is a good year to test because it doesn’t count. TEA is establishing a base-line with the new STAAR test this year. Schools will not receive ratings from the test for this year. STAAR has to be the same as TAKS because none of the TEKS have changed. Also, Texas has a compulsary attendance law so this mom may want to be careful about too many absences, otherwise she will find herself going to court on truancy charges. It is just a test. It is not a life or death situation. At my school, students are always more important than the test.