Disappearing Act
Disappearing Act
by Virginia Myers
End the testing fixation before it erases more meaningful education.
WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING, teachers, parents and even some students agree on one thing: They have had about all they can take. And for good reason. The fixation on testing is putting undue stress on educators as well as students, and, in many instances, punishing teachers and schools. It’s also shortchanging vital parts of the curriculum, including arts, music and physical education.
Bonnie Cunard, who teaches eighth-grade language arts in Fort Myers, Fla., feels the pinch in her classroom, sacrificing hours to test preparation and administration. For seven of the 10 months in the school year, the entire language arts curriculum revolves around the writing portion of standardized tests, says Cunard, a member of the Teachers Association of Lee County. Students sacrifice time they could spend studying literature to practice persuasive and expository writing, because if they don’t do well the school could lose its Title I status and the corresponding resources it needs to serve these children.
The system destroys holistic learning, says Cunard, noting also that it adds a lot of pressure. “The school is
End the testing fixation before it erases more meaningful education.
WHEN IT COMES TO TESTING, teachers, parents and even some students agree on one thing: They have had about all they can take. And for good reason. The fixation on testing is putting undue stress on educators as well as students, and, in many instances, punishing teachers and schools. It’s also shortchanging vital parts of the curriculum, including arts, music and physical education.
Bonnie Cunard, who teaches eighth-grade language arts in Fort Myers, Fla., feels the pinch in her classroom, sacrificing hours to test preparation and administration. For seven of the 10 months in the school year, the entire language arts curriculum revolves around the writing portion of standardized tests, says Cunard, a member of the Teachers Association of Lee County. Students sacrifice time they could spend studying literature to practice persuasive and expository writing, because if they don’t do well the school could lose its Title I status and the corresponding resources it needs to serve these children.
The system destroys holistic learning, says Cunard, noting also that it adds a lot of pressure. “The school is