So I'm not going to lie, when I start reading about testing and no child left behind blah blah blah ... I just want to rip my hair out and burn whatever it is I'm reading. Considering I read this articl on my iPad that probably is not a very good thing. I u derstand that our students need to be brought up to proficient levels in reading and math, but the focus of the government on the issue seems to be going too far. There are non education specialists dictating what education professionals should be doing. Is there any other industry where the non knowing gives advice and direction to the pro? I don't know of any.
There was a quote in the beginning of the article that caught my attention.
"Some people do terrible things when faced with unreasonable targets and draconian punishment."
I'm taking it out of context, but I have a point, I promise. Being in a school where almost all of the students in one of my classes are below proficient, I've seen first hand how the pressures of the government standards have not only affected the teachers, but the students as well. My co-op gave the class a practice test and they literally shut down. There was crying, threats of self hurting, and overall misbehavior and panic due to the mere practice. These kids know that they are not meeting the standards before them and it's hurting them rather than helping them as most would hope. I can't see how the rigorous expectations should go on if they are producing opposite results than planned.
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