Just my thoughts

Did you know that state wide testing starts next week? Did you know this is the testing no one seems to like, from students, to parents, to educators but here it comes again anyways? Did you know we are all supposed to be proficient by 2014 based on this test? This is the same test that has teacher's so scared they teach to the test. This is the same test that people are talking of using to create merit pay for teachers. This is the same test that 6 months after an imigrant gets here he/she takes it weather they speak english or not, and no matter the disability you got it, this test is your too. We speak of holding teacher's accountable and as a teacher I agree we should but this doesn't do that. If this is the best idea we can come up with then we are in more trouble than I thought. All this does is take a snap shot of how well a student takes a test. Forget that all through out college they teach the teachers to teach to the individual learner. Forget that school are so afraid now they cheat, or work to get those that will bring their scores down out. Forget all that and realize that the majority of high school students are unable to find the USA on the map, or gave us the Statue of Liberty, or what are three branches of government are. At the end of the day our children are not learning, and no one is really being held accountable for this.