Standardized Testing Wreaks Havoc on Education

First and foremost, I wanted to thank you for all you that are doing in/for our neighborhood. I devour each new issue of the Currents.

In response to the wonderful guest commentary written by Brian Kalish, I know first hand what these standardized test scores are doing to our schools. I teach third grade in MPS (one of the most heavily tested elementary grades - however no classroom is left unscathed by testing - even our 3-year-olds are being tested in head start). Parents and the community at large need to know that “No Child Left Behind” is a wonderful soundbyte, but it is just that. When test scores become punitive they wreak havoc in our schools.

I am in my third year of teaching and I had no idea that I would be spending much of my time preparing my students for the tests; it’s depressing. This becomes inevitable because of the value placed on these scores. No school wants to be labeled as “failing.” Before the exams our school had a “test busting” club after school. Children would attend and learn how to hone their test taking skills. They would practice the art of “filling in the bubbles.” Where is the value in this?

Our school rallies around these tests. So much valuable teaching time is lost (our fourth graders tested for TWO weeks this past fall). The worst part of all of this is that the “NCLB” law continues to go unfunded. Money promised by the federal government to pay for the testing has not been spent. Therefore, schools are forced to cut their art, music, phys. ed, and other programs so that we can afford to pay the testing companies. (A side note - many “choice” schools are not required to give these tests, yet they are still allowed to take tax payer dollars, which in turn takes money away from schools who are “being held accountable” - Make sense? I think not.)

The question that Brian asks at the end of his article is one I’ve been asking since I started teaching: “What do these tests really prove?” Children are not widgets. We cannot put them into little boxes. Each child in my classroom learns differently. These tests do not accurately measure the learning I see happening in my classroom every day. Politicians are not teachers. My goal as a teacher is to help my students become “thinkers.” I want them to ask big questions. I want them to explore topics of interest. I want them to feel wonder. That’s why I went into teaching.

Standardized tests are being used to punish schools; what many do not realize is that ultimately, we’re punishing the children.

- Amy Gutowski, Riverwest