I believe that children are our future.....
As mentioned earlier, I have a particular beef with the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). For those not in the know, the state of Florida has an assessment test given to all public school students in the third through eleventh grades. It covers reading and mathematics, in the 3rd through 10th grade; writing in the 4th, 8th and 10th grade; and science in the 5th, 8th and 11th grade. Students failing the FCAT are held back, and schools are graded on their students success rate, the result determining the amount of funding and bonuses said school receives. Students can not graduate and receive a regular diploma without passing this exam.
I have absolutely no problem with an assessment exam ensuring that our children are learning what they need to know to succeed in life. We should make sure that the children are actually learning how to read and write. I do have a problem with the effects of this test, and its limited nature. (Allow me to state that I do not, under any circumstance, blame the teachers. It is the administration and politicians that are, in my muddled little brain, at fault.)
Schools are "teaching to the test". Their entire curriculum is geared toward taking and passing the FCAT. I’ve heard many arguments and debates that this is not true, but I’ve seen testimony from teachers, and seen firsthand, that it is, indeed true. Perhaps not in every school, granted, but enough to be noticed. The entire focus of education in the classrooms is on the subject matter of the test, and ensuring that the students pass.
This, in and of itself, is not an entirely bad thing, as it does cover fundamental skills needed in life. But it doesn’t cover all of them. It narrows the focus. What about Social Studies? History? Art? Where is the diversity? What about professional development? Shouldn’t these things be a part of the educational process as well?
The students are not learning. They are not obtaining a grasp upon their past, their roots, nor are they gaining insight into their future, what skills they excel at, and where they might be best put to use in a career. They are not being taught to create, to invent, to imagine, to dream. They are learning how to take a test. One particular test. Yes, again, they are learning the very basic skills needed in life, but no more. We are not educating individuals, we are stamping out cookie cutter molds.
There must be some accountability in our schools. I agree with this completely. I think that ensuring that our children are able to read and write before they can graduate is a wonderful idea. But it can not be the "end all" point of our schools. It can not be too narrow of a focus. Children must grow, not memorize.
What is the solution? How about smaller classrooms? A smaller student to teacher ratio? How about enough funding for our schools so that the teachers don’t have to spend their own money to buy class supplies? Or ration chalk? Or teach in a trailer? How about sharing the wealth of knowledge, in a less fiscally competitive program so that programs that work can be utilized throughout the entire school system, instead of being hoarded by the "A" schools, the one’s making all the money, getting all the bonuses?
Hey, I may be way off base, but this is my blog, so it’s my opinion, and I am free to shout it from the top of the mountain. Okay, Florida doesn't have mountains.... Heck, I don’t even have kids. But that doesn’t keep me from worrying about those who do.
End rant. Blaze away….
I have absolutely no problem with an assessment exam ensuring that our children are learning what they need to know to succeed in life. We should make sure that the children are actually learning how to read and write. I do have a problem with the effects of this test, and its limited nature. (Allow me to state that I do not, under any circumstance, blame the teachers. It is the administration and politicians that are, in my muddled little brain, at fault.)
Schools are "teaching to the test". Their entire curriculum is geared toward taking and passing the FCAT. I’ve heard many arguments and debates that this is not true, but I’ve seen testimony from teachers, and seen firsthand, that it is, indeed true. Perhaps not in every school, granted, but enough to be noticed. The entire focus of education in the classrooms is on the subject matter of the test, and ensuring that the students pass.
This, in and of itself, is not an entirely bad thing, as it does cover fundamental skills needed in life. But it doesn’t cover all of them. It narrows the focus. What about Social Studies? History? Art? Where is the diversity? What about professional development? Shouldn’t these things be a part of the educational process as well?
The students are not learning. They are not obtaining a grasp upon their past, their roots, nor are they gaining insight into their future, what skills they excel at, and where they might be best put to use in a career. They are not being taught to create, to invent, to imagine, to dream. They are learning how to take a test. One particular test. Yes, again, they are learning the very basic skills needed in life, but no more. We are not educating individuals, we are stamping out cookie cutter molds.
There must be some accountability in our schools. I agree with this completely. I think that ensuring that our children are able to read and write before they can graduate is a wonderful idea. But it can not be the "end all" point of our schools. It can not be too narrow of a focus. Children must grow, not memorize.
What is the solution? How about smaller classrooms? A smaller student to teacher ratio? How about enough funding for our schools so that the teachers don’t have to spend their own money to buy class supplies? Or ration chalk? Or teach in a trailer? How about sharing the wealth of knowledge, in a less fiscally competitive program so that programs that work can be utilized throughout the entire school system, instead of being hoarded by the "A" schools, the one’s making all the money, getting all the bonuses?
Hey, I may be way off base, but this is my blog, so it’s my opinion, and I am free to shout it from the top of the mountain. Okay, Florida doesn't have mountains.... Heck, I don’t even have kids. But that doesn’t keep me from worrying about those who do.
End rant. Blaze away….
posted by Turtle at 9:12 PM
1 Comments:
But don't you see, if you teach children too much they grow up to question what their leaders tell them to do. That's why W initiated the 'No Child Left Behind' program. That way his conservative followers can have a ready made, complacent, stupid army of point and shoot soldiers all willing to do whatever they're told without any pesky 'knowledge' getting in the way. And as for giving the schools more funding, well we have more important things to do with our tax dollars. Just look at our magnificent successes in Iraq and Afghanistan. Truly such accomplishments are worth a few, well ok more than a few, ok most schools having to cram thirty students into classrooms made for 20, and teachers having to buy their own classroom supplies. Besides, your average teacher is pulling in $30-35K a year. If they don't buy their own supplies they'll only blow all that extra dough on foolish things like food, clothing, and shelter. Is that the kind of country you want to live in? Sheesh! Next thing you'll be wanting affordable health care and a balanced budget.
I do have a kid, and I'm a teacher, and you are absolutely correct. The FCAT is the stupidest thing to hit our schools since W first mispronounced the pledge of alligience in 1st grade.
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