NEA president-elect: Teachers are neither strangers to, nor... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com

NEA president-elect: Teachers are neither strangers to, nor... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

NEA president-elect: Teachers are neither strangers to, nor enemies of, tests. 

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NEA president-elect Lily Eskelsen García

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By Maureen Downey

Here is an essay on testing by National Education Association President-Elect and former (Utah) Teacher of the Year Lily Eskelsen García.

A bit about García from her official bio: She began her career in education as a school lunch lady, became a kindergarten aide and was encouraged by the teacher to go to college and become a teacher herself. She worked her way through the University of Utah on scholarships, student loans, and as a starving folk singer, graduating magna cum laude in elementary education and later earning her master’s degree in instructional technology.

After teaching only nine years, Lily was named Utah Teacher of the Year for her work as an elementary teacher. She worked with homeless children and gifted children; as a mentor for student teachers; and as a peer assistance team leader in the suburbs of Salt Lake City where she taught at Orchard Elementary School.

By Lily Eskelsen García

As educators, we believe in good testing.   Almost every student in America will confirm that most teachers are neither strangers to, nor enemies of, tests.  But great teachers know the difference between tests that help students and tests that harm students.  While some of my former sixth graders might argue with this point, tests are not meant to be implements to torture and punish students.  Instead, tests should be designed to help teachers evaluate individual student needs and tailor lessons to meet their learning needs.

 This is an important point, because what is happening in our schools today with high stakes standardized tests flies in the face of what is best for our students.  This is what I call “toxic testing.”  Too often and in too many places, we have turned the time-tested practice of teach, NEA president-elect: Teachers are neither strangers to, nor... | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com:

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