Grading the Graders: More Meaningless Madness!
Have you been following the recent drive among pundits and pols to find a new use for those standardized tests they give to our kids?
Those costly tests, which also take much time away from learners and teachers, are largely useless in helping students. The sample of questions and student answers just don't tell anyone enough about what to do with the data.
This kind of inane testing costs hundreds of millions of dollars, in addition to even more priceless lost learning time. The sizable profits made from the sales to 16,000 plus school districts end up in the coffers of the testing moguls. Followup political payback donations go into the pockets of the pols of both parties.
What we have here is a government-endorsed license to steal money. Even worse, it purloins critical classroom time-on-tasks of teaching and learning.
Could it be worse, you ask? Yes! About a year and a half ago, I wrote the following blog:
TO GRADE OR NOT TO GRADE, THAT IS THE QUESTION...
SO, WHAT'S THE ANSWER?
How did you feel the first time you had a grade attached to you? You know...a letter C, maybe with a +