Jack Hassard: The Testing Games put our Youth at Risk
Guest post by Jack Hassard. Originally posted here. Note: This is the third in a series of articles on the consequences of the authoritarian standards & high-stakes testing
In the next month every American girl and boy in grades 3- 8 will participate in the testing games, an annual competition to determine which schools are good or bad, whether they have a good teacher or a bad one, and what factoids they put to memory or guesswork.
The "testing games" have been part of human culture for a long time, but they have taken on greater significance since policy makers have figured out how to differentiate "winners and losers" in the annual contest held each spring.
Third through eighth grade girls and boys, in the annual "testing games" will sit in place over several days spending at least 6 hours at their desks bubbling in test answer sheets; for some special education students
In the next month every American girl and boy in grades 3- 8 will participate in the testing games, an annual competition to determine which schools are good or bad, whether they have a good teacher or a bad one, and what factoids they put to memory or guesswork.
The "testing games" have been part of human culture for a long time, but they have taken on greater significance since policy makers have figured out how to differentiate "winners and losers" in the annual contest held each spring.
Third through eighth grade girls and boys, in the annual "testing games" will sit in place over several days spending at least 6 hours at their desks bubbling in test answer sheets; for some special education students