Reading, Writing, and TEST, TEST, TEST!

When you think of spring, what comes to mind? An end of a long, cold winter?  Blooming flowers? Easter? Getting outside for walks in the park? Spring makes one feel anew again, doesn't it? At the same time, for educators, spring equals added stress for a period of two weeks. Why, you ask?

 It's PSSA time! One word could be used to sum up the PSSA. That word??? YUCK.

Nearly a decade and a half ago, the Bush Administration passed a law called "No Child Left Behind." The premise of the law was that each and every child would have access to a quality education. No barriers would be permitted, nor would children be "shoved through" the system. Since the law was passed, each state has adopted a standard assessment (test) to administer to students in certain grade levels. Here in Pennsylvania the test is known as the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

First and foremost, as a parent, I agree with the premise of "No Child Left Behind." Every child should have access to a quality education. What I don't agree with, however, is what has happened in our educational system over the course of the last decade. In my opinion, instead of teaching our children skills which will help them navigate through life, we are now teaching children how to take (and hopefully pass) tests. Nothing more. In addition to being a parent, I also work in the public education arena. I see what is going on in the schools. It is maddening. While I've been opposed to PSSA "standard" testing for years, I'm even more opposed to it now. I feel the PSSA is designed in such a way that our children are "set up" to fail. Note the wordage in the PSSA title. School Assessment. We are making children jump though hoops to assess the school's performance.

This cartoon pretty much spells it out. There are two, polar opposite, types of tests which can be administered. One, the PASA, is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The other, the PSSA is designed for ALL other students, regardless of where they "fit" on the learning scale. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, if the student doesn't qualify for PASA testing, too bad. You're stuck with the other test. No exceptions. No modifications. No support or help for a struggling student. It's completely insane. There is NO WAY some students can be fairly "assessed" with the testing as it is now. I despise what I know is coming. 

A few years back when Brie was in elementary school, she became seriously ill during PSSA testing. She was sent home sick from school on the first day of testing. I took her to the doctor and we found out that she had pneumonia. She spent the entire week in bed. I cannot tell you how many times I got calls from the school about how to get Brie tested. I was told that she could be "isolated from the rest of the students" so she could test. I was told she could come in before or after school to test. I was beyond furious. After explaining to the staff that even if Brie did come in (which I wasn't willing to do), she wasn't well enough to produce quality work because of being so sick. DUH!!!! When all was said and done, I agreed to have the principal come to our home on a Sunday afternoon to administer the test. Crazy, right? All these years later, I'm still irritated with myself for permitting that to happen. I had every legal right to "Opt Out" of testing. Instead of doing so, I caved. Why did the school want Brie to test so badly? Because of how high her scores would be. As an exceptional student, her advanced scores (which she achieved) brought the results up. Basically they need "strong" students to balance the scales for the "weak" students. Again, an example of how messed up the assessment is.

I am now at the point where, if I were the parent of younger children, I'd tell the schools and state to take a flying leap. I am 100%  opposed to these assessments. They prove nothing. They are a waste of resources and money. As inadequate as public education is becoming, I would encourage my children to find alternative educational choices for their future children. Instead of "No Child Left Behind" supporting children, it has become a case of EVERY Child Left Behind.