There's more to life

Have you ever watched "Whose Line is it Anyway?". It's a very silly show where comedians are given scenarios and they have to improv on the spot. The show is hilarious and I'm always amazed at how quickly these people think on their feet. However, this post is not about that television show. I only mentioned it because the graphic shown below is from that show.

This post is actually about the content of the graphic... Standardized Testing. During the spring, schools all across Ohio give the OAA (Ohio Achievement Assessment) to students in grades 3-6. These tests are aggravating on so many different levels. The stress levels of the teachers go through the roof because of these tests. This is because my evaluation as a teacher (i.e. whether I'm deemed a good teacher or a bad teacher) is based on these test results. Never mind the fact the students couldn't care any less about these tests. Even best case scenarios involve students who give a mediocre effort. Worst case scenarios have students resisting the test, sabotaging the test or even refusing to take it at all. My performance as a teacher is based on test results from students who start life behind the 8 ball and honestly don't give a hoot about the test at all (or their education in general for that matter). Teachers nowadays are also being encouraged (and in some cases required) to have students work in cooperative groups and/or with a partner. Yet when it's time to take the OAA, the students work alone. It hardly seems practical to have students working in conjunction with other students all year, then having them fly solo for the test. Teachers are also required to differentiate instruction. This is a fancy way of saying that kids learn in many different ways (auditory, visual, body-kinesthetic...) and teachers need to take into account many different learning styles when planning and teaching lessons. Yet when it's time to take the OAA, there is no differentiation at all. Hence the name STANDARDIZED test. Imagine this--- Ok, Johnny. We know you learn best by listening (auditory) and your teachers are going to take that into account when they teach you this year. But when it's time to take the OAA, that all goes out the window and you have to do the paper/pencil test which favors the visual learners. Sorry about your misfortune, Johnny. Good luck on the test though. My reputation as a teacher depends on it. Please understand there may be a bit of exaggeration there, but I believe you get the idea.How can we differentiate instruction, but administer tests in a standardized form? Is this really the best way to measure and gauge what students know or what they can really do? I don't think so, but there are a lot of smart people making tons more money than me that seem to think this makes sense. What am I missing here?

Meanwhile, I will bang my head against the wall attempting to prepare my students for a test they don't want to take, that won't necessarily reflect what they know or what they can do. A test that will ultimately decide if I've done a good job or not. What the world doesn't know is this test cannot show what I do on a daily basis. This test will not reflect that every day to my students I am a: teacher, peacemaker, therapist, psychologist, judge, mediator, father figure, disciplinarian, encourager, nurse, bully stopper, tear wiper, hugger, food provider, bruised ego fixer, cheerleader, protector, tutor, and in some cases the only person that will tell them the truth (even if it hurts).

No folks, the OAA will not measure that. It will only show that my students may or may not be able to read a poem about birch trees and realize it's really about an old man pining for the days of his youth. It's by Robert Frost in case you were wondering. It will show that my students may or may not be able to read a lengthy passage and answer difficult questions about it. I'm not diminishing the skills needed to be good readers and writers. Those things are important. However, somebody needs to take a look at the big picture. There's more to life than a two hour test. I have a student whose mother is gravely ill and may not live through the weekend. How do you think she'll perform on the test? Sorry folks, trick question... the answer is, "WHO CARES!". Many children are dealing with some extremely tough life circumstances. Performing well on a two hour standardized test may not be high on their list of priorities. These are not excuses for these children, but just a glimpse into their reality.