Heres an excerpt from an Idaho teachers letter on Common Core and SBAC testing (Hawaiis kids will test using SBAC). Please read what this teacher is saying because Hawaiis kids will be testing spring 2015 and this is what is coming: I write my letter now because my students just recently took the “field” SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) tests that Idaho uses to assess the use of the Common Core Standards. My students began the SBAC test within the first hour of the school day, they tested until lunch and then had to resume the test directly after lunch. At the very end of the school day (the exact time to dismiss for busses), I still had several students who were not finished. My elementary students had spent over 5 hours testing, only having a break for lunch. This test was only 1 of 2 that my students (and all 3rd – 6th grade students at my school) were required to take. Currently, the required tests are in Math and English Language Arts. Although the 5+ hours of testing elementary students was bad, it is not the worst of the Common Core and SBAC tests. In the morning of the first test, I was notified that teachers were not allowed to look at the computer screens and see what was on the test. I was told to position myself in the room for the entire day so that I could not see any of my students’ computer screens. I was horrified that I, whom parents trust to protect, teach and take care of their children during the day, was told I couldn’t even see the topics my students were reading about or the questions they were being asked. At lunchtime my students were dismissed, and I had the opportunity to speak to another staff member who I discovered is also another “silent” educator. She asked me if I had taken the opportunity to read through some of the sample ELA (English Language Arts) SBAC testing items on -line. I had briefly glanced through them but did not read them thoroughly. She shared that her biggest concern was that several of the questions were based on inference (meaning how does the student feel, think or respond to the situation) and not factual information that can be found in a text. Right as she said this, my mind was brought back to some documents and resources I had read last year concerning Common Core. The most prevalent resource in my mind was a letter written by a Doctor of Clinical Psychology by the name of Dr. Gary Thompson. .... ....I encourage everyone to read his [Dr. Thompsons] letter to fully understand why it is so dangerous to allow government or any entity the right to measure the “attributes, dispositions, social skills, attitudes and intra personal resources” of our children. Our students are being required by law to participate in psychological testing (psychometric testing); .... ..... When my students’ testing day ended because of the need to get my kiddos out the door and to their busses, I was on the verge of tears. These amazing students in my class looked like lifeless little spirits; they were so exhausted. I tried to tell them that they had done a great job, but I just couldn’t say it without crying. I simply had to ask them to line up to prepare to go home. I honestly was sick about the fact that I had just participated in the day’s events. I went home and cried. I promise parents all the time that I will keep their children safe and treat them in the highest regard. This day I failed. I felt like my hands were tied. This is my story, and the help I am asking for is that, if possible, you share my perspective as a teacher and that you do your own research on these topics. I am a mom, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, friend and Christian. I believe there are many more teachers in the system that feel the same way but are afraid to speak up because they love their students, and their job is crucial to their survival. Please encourage other teachers and more citizens of Idaho to speak up, or it is going to get worse and fast. Please encourage all to be diligent about their research and diligent about voting for those who will make the changes to protect our children. Don’t always take the words or “talking points” of others as gospel….look things up and find out for yourself. Best of all, encourage everyone to pray for guidance to know the part that they should play in this battle for our freedoms and privacy. This argument is not about education standards; it is so much deeper than that. I feel that our very freedoms and liberties are at risk. May God bless you for your willingness to step forward and be a voice for good. Please remember that “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” Read the full post and the entire letter here: missourieducationwatchdog/the-classroom-reality-of-common-core-is-this-what-you-want-for-your-child/
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 07:23:13 +0000
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