Garfield High teachers refuse to give standardized test

Is anyone concerned that, in addition to all the other tests, this test is administered THREE times a year?  When is there time for teaching the content and practicing skills with the personal touch kind of help these kids need?

The NWEA MAP assessments are not standardized tests. They are computer based adaptive assessments, meaning they adapt to the knowledge and skill level of each student, and they are among the most valid and reliable assessments on the planet. They are used extensively across the United States and the world to accurately measure student academic progress. My school district uses them in grades k-8 in reading and math, and science at the middle school, and the teachers value the information for each student which allows them to individualize their instruction and teach each student at their instructional level. If you question their validity, go to NWEA.org and you will find all of the research and evidence you could ever want documenting their validity.

The last time I took that test was in 2006. If it's still anything like it was when I was in high school then these teachers are right because it's a complete joke. Standardized tests are fine to give a vague to general idea of where students are at but this test truly proves very little in terms of knowledge or intellegence. I never understood the point of "standardizing" a test and using it for anything more than a reference taken with a grain of salt when there is no one way people learn or display their knowledge. Let alone thousands of bored teenagers packed into crowded classrooms.

I read a article that said that in Finland fines are basted on income...now that is a good idea.  They said a wealthy heir paid $204,000 for speeding. Now that makes sense.

Wtg Teachers!!!!

The teachers should be fired for insubordination and replaced.  Their union will file grievances that will eventually be arbitrated.  The arbitrator(s) will probably be put the insubordinate teachers back to work, but only after a long, expensive fight.

 

This is the problem with organized labor these days.  Rather than follow a collective bargaining process to mediate disputes, militant unions simply take matters into their own hands.  Of course, if the other side doesn’t follow a collective bargaining process, the unions are all over them with unfair labor practice charges and a slew of other administration actions.

 

And, since a majority people associated with the Seattle public school system are pro union, nobody will step up to take these teachers on.

 

Sad.

I agree that there was a conflict of interest when Goodloe-Johnson added the MAP test, but they fail to explain how the test itself was flawed. Are they saying all the other school districts taking this test will get wrong results? Are students from different school districts different from students here? Should the bar be lowered for seattle students so that everybody feel good about the results?

 

Public schools are jokes, they spend all their energy grooming the students to take these tests basically memorizing things that will be on the test so that teachers look good. However students do no retain what they learn or know what to do with it.

I think the problem is that the teachers know that the kids aren't going to pass so instead of placing the blame on the students, the students' parents and even themselves..... let's just blame the test. I know the test is not perfect, but if you step back and not nit pick every little flaw, it will does give a fair assessment of what the student has learned.

Although I'm not a fan of standardized tests, there still needs to be some sort of baseline for assessing performance, both of students and teachers. What's frightening to me is how low the standards have fallen. In helping my stepkids with their homework over the years, I've suggested improving their projects in various ways only to get a response of "No, I don't need to do any more on it, this will get an A". And sure enough, they got As. Even though they were turning in what would have barely gotten a C when I was in school (which wasn't that long ago.) There's a reason why "picture only" instructions at places like McDonald's are proliferating - our schools are churning out a barely, BARELY literate workforce. Go stand outside when Renton High School lets out for the day. It will make you fear for the future.

What these teachers are really saying is these test are too white for the black children. These teachers should all be fired if they do not conform to the standards set by the State.

The tests are a stupid expensive idea that was signed onto by the teachers union. This teacher no doubt has good objections but doesn't get to pick and choose which test to administer. She should take it up with her union. She thinks she is talking truth to power but the power that most concerns her would be her own union. Not a very classy decision.

The teachers don't want standardized testing because it defines their performance more than the students.

If the public knew the actual cost of these tests and how much time is spent on them, well, Tim Eyman could pass an initiative banning them by about 90%.

"The teachers say the test -- which they call they call it a waste of time, money and..."

 

Reporters and editors are apparently Garfield alumni.

Standardized tests should be done away with, except for except for English tests, which it should only be administered to KOMO news writers and proof readers.

It's interesting the teachers will walk out because they deem a test as waste of money, but they refuse to address the issue of the waste of money spent on bad teachers. Oh the hipocrasy. Where does the WEA stand on this?

http://tinyurl.com/by2n6cs

Standardized testing should be done away with. It is a waste of time and money. I spent more time covering 'formats' in the classes that I taught instead of teaching actual material, as per request of the high school administration. My course was not material that was tested on these exams, so it was considered 'extra time' in which the students could practice using the format of the test instead of learning a secondary language. Ridiculous. As a teacher, I understand that I need to constantly try new teaching methods in order to reach my students. I know I can't save them all, but I can try! Teaching for these irrelevant tests does nothing but give a false sense of assurance to the admins while students continue to fail in basic skills.

I do not agree with standardized testing, not all people learn things the same way.

 

We need to allow kids to learn in different ways, and allow teachers to teach different ways.

 

I am a sit and listen to a lecture person, some learn other ways.

 

Hell, if kids actually stay in school, give them options to learn and give the teachers the latitude to teach it to fit the students.

 

You may be surprised. 

tests?  Go look at "dumbing down: then and now" at minding the campus dot com. Shows an 1895 fifth grade matriculation requirement.  I"d question the ability of half  the first year college students now to answer half of the questions.  I don't have the answers memorized, and I have well over four years college. http://www.mindingthecampus.com/forum/2008/04/then_and_now.html

They are right, standardized tests ARE useless, especially when administered in an ethnically diverse environment.  I studied this in college - some kids will literally not understand some of the questions themselves because they may be immigrants/English second language, some may have learning disabilities, some may just test poorly, some will not care.  There are many factors not taken into account for 'standardized' tests and they do NOT provide a picture of how well a district is doing.  

Actually, these teachers are probably correct that the test is completely useless, expensive and disruptive, and tends to lead to false conclusions about student progress and learning.

For a real eye-opener, check out the video DVD entitled "The Finland phenomenon : inside the world's most surprising school system" (available from King County Library, call # "DVD 370.94897 FIN" - but NOT from Seattle Public Library!) and watch it. Find out about the acknowledged BEST school system in the WORLD - and be surprised by what is the same and what is very different. For example, Finnish teachers earn about what American teachers do and school budgets are similar or smaller, but Finnish students do very little homework and take very few tests... at all... Yet Finnish students come away from high school at a level akin to American college graduates.

America's school system and school districts have got a LOT to learn.

Academia has so many goofy ideas and poorly executed concepts that both students and parents owe it to themselves to be vigilant and proactive and speak up about things. If these teachers view the test that strongly then the district should hear them out. 

One of MANY reasons why we've chosen to homeschool our children.