SHERBURNE – During a visit from the NYS Commissioner of Education on Tuesday, a number of Sherburne-Earlville Central School District teachers wore T-shirts in what they called a respectful display of their dissatisfaction with the recently enacted education reforms, or what is being dubbed by teachers across the state as the “misuse” of high stakes testing.
The unobtrusive maroon T-shirts either sported the quote, “I care more about the people my students become than the scores on the tests they take,” a slogan being shared by teachers across the state, or, “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think,” a quote attributed to American cultural anthropologist Margaret Meade.
“The Sherburne-Earlville Teachers’ Association is very proud of our district,” said SETA president Jennifer Moore. “We have wonderful teachers that embrace the best practices in the classroom, which is the point of the commissioner’s visit, so he can see firsthand the great things happening at S-E. However, what the State Education Department is doing in regards to the enormous amount of testing expected from teachers and students is not reflective of best practice, which is why our teachers felt it was necessary to take a stand in solidarity and wear our SETA shirts to protest the misuse of these high stake tests during Commissioner King’s visit.”
The new assessments are designed to measure gaps in student learning. However, instead of improving learning environments, the new assessments have led to widespread frustration among teachers. While a significant amount of classroom time is now being dedicated to proctoring the new assessments, the results are being returned to teachers with scores of a one, two, three or four, for each child. Without any further data, many teachers have come to view the assessments as useless in helping to drive instruction in classrooms, while at the same time the proctoring of the assessments have eaten away large portions of teaching time.
While SETA welcomes education reform, teachers would prefer it to be based on the best practices, explained Moore.
“The Sherburne-Earlville Teachers’ Association believes in accountability. There is a place for testing in our classrooms, just not the misuse of it,” she stated.
The association is subsequently requesting the implementation of more authentic assessments which gauge what students know and are capable of. For example, instead of using the current bubbling in tests on multiple choice questions, Moore suggests compiling individual portfolios of various student projects which would more aptly allow teachers to assess an individual student’s strengths and weaknesses; information that could – in turn – be used by the teachers to provide the necessary support for students.
Said Moore, “We need Albany to focus on the economic and social conditions that interfere with childrens’ readiness to learn .. we need parent education programs, as every parent wants their child to succeed.”
The association has also objected to the assertion, made by the NYSED, that the new testing is providing information on students’ readiness for college. Aside from the obvious problem – the assessments begin with grade three students, children who have yet to attain a elementary school degree, let alone begin college shopping – it has been argued that a snap shot of one test day does not make a child college and career ready. Current research has indicated instead that the best indicators of a college and career ready student is a supportive family, as well as economic conditions.
Teachers have also been questioning where the data being compiled is going. New York State has joined others in entering into a multimillion dollar contract with the recently formed private company inBloom. Allegedly, the gathered information is being used to form a national database to be utilized by other private businesses contracting with public schools.