Suspended without pay is a little extreme, I think. But then, again, I think that he deserves a medal.
My kid starts the WASL today. I spent the morning cutting up cantaloupes, so that I could send "healthy snacks" to school.
Luckily, my kid is a lot more relaxed about it than a lot of kids. The teacher, Mr. Chew, says that he has had kids throw up on their tests and get physically ill in other ways, because the test is so stressful.
He stated, on the news last night, that his biggest objection to the test was that it was "cruel".
I was glad that the article linked to an organization against the WASL. ('Cause I certainly need to get on another mailing list...)
I have spoken with state Senator Eric Oemig about eliminating the WASL. This was when he was running for office, so he said something to the effect of "retooling" it. And he also has worked very hard to repair the NCLB, which I also think should be scrapped. Senator Oemig is a tremendous asset to our legislature; in addition to making education his central concern, he immediately introduced an impeachement resolution his first month in the Senate.
Personally I feel that there are so many regulations put on our educators that they have lost the ability to actually educate.
I hope that Mr. Chew's message gets out. I hope that this country recognizes the wisdom behind his civil disobedience.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
So in the context of the WASL in Washington State, what are the consequences for kids and schools for success, mediocrity, or failure?
Iowa has always had testing, but the results and consequences of it were radically redefined by NCLB demands.
I'm so glad my kids are out of school, so I don't have to deal anymore. I always told them that I didn't care about grades, as long as they learned something, and I helped them in that respect. My son's now making more than I am, and my daughter's on her way. High schools are prisons anymore, and kids treated like criminals. What a mess.
what are the consequences for kids and schools for success, mediocrity, or failure?
WASL scores follow a kid all through their school years.
Now, they cannot graduate from High School unless they pass the WASL.
Also, the schools cannot get Federal funding unless they have high enough scores on their WASL testing.
The other horrible thing about the WASL is that there are now very few electives in Jr & Sr High because the kids have to take so much test prep. No longer art and shop and music and stuff like that.
So the students who would not be going into college, but instead are better fit for a trade, never get to figure that out because they are unable to take those electives.
It is all BS. I feel really sorry for the students nowadays.
Post a Comment