Do these tests bother any of the other parents here?
For those of you who might not know, in Texas the schools have yearly tests called Texas Assesment of Acedemic Skills(TAAS) tests.
Here is a link to the Texas Education Code that covers this: http://capitol.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/codes/ED000023.html
Based on these tests the state awards schools money for programs, equipment, etc.Additionally, schools that don’t perform well are penalised(sp?) by the state.See parts B and C of Sec. 39.024 .
I have always been led to believe that schools are not allowed to teach TAAS, i.e. put emphasis on TAAS related work in order to ensure better scores.However, my son (11) has every year spent a month or more working ‘practice’ TAAS tests and studying TAAS material.Most of his yearly work is focused on the subjects his age group gets tested for.He has no form of art class at all.He has virtually no history .And his science class is a Mister Wizard-like treat twice a month.When I asked his elementary school principal about this, I got thoroughly chewed out.
My son worries about these tests more than his regular school work.The students believe that this test is crucial to their school careers.I believe that the "intensive programs for students who did not perform satisfactorily on an assessment " that the code refers to are seen by the students as a punishment.My son tells me that “people who fail TAAS have to go to dummy class”.The school does nothing to correct their misinformed impressions.The school even sends me papers home telling me not to let him stay up too late during TAAS Week, for fear that he may get ill or be too tired to perform well.
This kind of attention and encouragement is not given to regular class work.
I have been bothered by this situation for years.I cannot afford to put him in a private school, nor do I have the funds or ability to home school him.Anyway, I believe private schools have to give this test as well - so that really isn’t an answer.
My son is required to take these tests if he is at school the day they are given, and I am considering keeping him home in a kind of silent protest.Am I wrong to feel like my son is being used?Am I just a bitchy mom for feeling like my kid is being robbed of a well-rounded education because of these tests?Should I just shut up and do as I’m told?
What do you guys think?
If this belongs in the Pit, please move it.I wasn’t sure where to put it.
I’m sorry I bumped this.Please don’t bite me too hard; I just happened to notice a lot of activity on the board in the last hour and I thought it might help if folks could see it.
Does your son not have to take these tests eventually anyway? It’s been a few (not very many) years since I went through the Texas public school system, but I’m pretty sure that each student must pass the TAAS to be advanced to the next grade. Or perhaps that was only after a certain level.
Anyway, I can’t imagine anyone having difficulty with the TAAS. Yes, I know a disturbingly high percentage do, but I just don’t see how.
When I went through, the classes did place a little emphasis on review for likely subjects just before the tests, but the classes were by no means geared to them. I do understand that some schools have begun to tailor the material more to the test than they should though.
I personally think the tests are stupid, but how else are is the school system to gauge performance in a relatively standard way?
To clear things up:
No, he doesn’t have to take them to advance to the next grade.They do not affect his actual grades at all.But,high school seniors have to take(and pass) them in order to graduate.
I understand the need for some sort of accountability, but I don’t think this is working.
Yes, my child can pass this test.He can do so because the test has now become the basis for his schools entire curriculum.
Rather than showing that the school is doing a good job teaching, this test shows that the school is doing a good job teaching the TEST.
Shouldn’t there be more to an education than learning how to pass ONE specific test?
In California, we have a similar system. It’s lousy, and pointless(the writing test asks you to write a subjective piece on, say, “What makes a good pizza” or something like that, and you’re graded pass/fail on it–I failed the damned pizza thing)…but required to advance in grades(or so I thought).
When my brother took them, it was established that your parent can opt their children out.
You might want to express your concerns to the principle and suggest that he not participate…or go to the media and suggest they run a story so other parents see it your way and he’s not the only one not taking the tests!
I agree with you, they shouldn’t be studying specifically for this test - it’s supposed to be measuring how well the school performs its normal job. How can that happen if the schools are allowed to train their students specifically on the test?
The problem is that performance on the test has been tied to money. Whenever that happens, anything like ethical behavior flies out the window. Imagine if your raise was based on how well you did on a test, rather than on job performance. Obviously the principal was hostile towards you; you were threatening his budget.
What’s really bad is that most people have been convinced that the children must do well on this. After all, it’s a test. Well, the children should only do as well as the school is doing.
You might try approaching the state board of education. Unfortunately, they also have a vested interest in the system as it is - they can use the TAAS test to show politicians and voters that they are doing “their job”. It’s frustrating.
TAAS is the perfect example of what is wrong with education today. Let us teach kids that studying for a standardized test is more important than learning how to learn and learning how to reason. Does the government not realize that by punishing schools that perform poorly, they are forcing schools to “teach the test”?
