Comments on: More testing for Seniors http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Mon, 16 Apr 2007 13:25:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: ENG 311 Comments « The Mechanic’s Daughter http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-35 ENG 311 Comments « The Mechanic’s Daughter Sun, 15 Apr 2007 20:12:52 +0000 http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-35 [...] http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/ [...] [...] http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/ [...]

]]> By: kooikema http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-7 kooikema Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:23:31 +0000 http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-7 OK, when I was in high school, I was an excellent student. Passing classes without studying for ANYTHING was easy for me. I never worried about anything because it all came naturally to me. However, I do remember being scared when we had to take the MEAPs. Some of my college money depended on how well I did on those tests. I can not imagine being in high school and having 6 tests determine whether or not I would graduate. That would scare the sand out of me! Now, thinking from the perspective of a not so good student, one that has to try really hard just to pass—I think that giving them the pressure of these tests would be enough to send them over the edge and give up, not to mention the students who have pretty much given up before they had to take the tests. I know that the article talked about the students being prepared because they knew what was expected of them, were sent notes reminding them about certain things they had to do as far as the tests go, they were given time with counselors and yada, yada, yada. Even if students were “prepared” for them that does not mean that they are not discouraging to the students. There has got to be a better way to access schools and students than by simply giving them a bunch of tests to pass. OK, when I was in high school, I was an excellent student. Passing classes without studying for ANYTHING was easy for me. I never worried about anything because it all came naturally to me. However, I do remember being scared when we had to take the MEAPs. Some of my college money depended on how well I did on those tests. I can not imagine being in high school and having 6 tests determine whether or not I would graduate. That would scare the sand out of me! Now, thinking from the perspective of a not so good student, one that has to try really hard just to pass—I think that giving them the pressure of these tests would be enough to send them over the edge and give up, not to mention the students who have pretty much given up before they had to take the tests. I know that the article talked about the students being prepared because they knew what was expected of them, were sent notes reminding them about certain things they had to do as far as the tests go, they were given time with counselors and yada, yada, yada. Even if students were “prepared” for them that does not mean that they are not discouraging to the students. There has got to be a better way to access schools and students than by simply giving them a bunch of tests to pass.

]]> By: stephcj http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-6 stephcj Fri, 02 Feb 2007 03:47:02 +0000 http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-6 I just don’t understand why the state governments think that testing their students before allowing them to graduate is a good idea. I agree with you that the tests are probably hurting students more than they are helping them. The idea of my receiving or not receiving my high school diploma hinging upon passing a set of tests or not is simply too overwhelming, and would be especially overwhelming for students that are already having trouble with passing the tests. Even though they do offer remedial classes for those students that struggle with passing the tests, I don’t think that a few remedial classes will help those students test any better. Sometimes it is simply the fact that those students have a hard time taking tests, not that they don’t grasp the concepts. I also believe that it is not at testing time that teachers should be worried about bringing these students up to their normal grade level. They need help before that. The teachers that are teaching them in the grades prior to the senior test need to make sure that the students are understanding the subject, and if they aren’t, then I don’t think that holding them back until they do understand should be seen as a bad thing to do. I just don’t understand why the state governments think that testing their students before allowing them to graduate is a good idea. I agree with you that the tests are probably hurting students more than they are helping them. The idea of my receiving or not receiving my high school diploma hinging upon passing a set of tests or not is simply too overwhelming, and would be especially overwhelming for students that are already having trouble with passing the tests.

Even though they do offer remedial classes for those students that struggle with passing the tests, I don’t think that a few remedial classes will help those students test any better. Sometimes it is simply the fact that those students have a hard time taking tests, not that they don’t grasp the concepts.

I also believe that it is not at testing time that teachers should be worried about bringing these students up to their normal grade level. They need help before that. The teachers that are teaching them in the grades prior to the senior test need to make sure that the students are understanding the subject, and if they aren’t, then I don’t think that holding them back until they do understand should be seen as a bad thing to do.

]]> By: cherneyn http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-5 cherneyn Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:34:02 +0000 http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-5 I had someone comment on one of my other posts on how if you didn't do well on those standardied tests, they would get in trouble. I think that is sending a totally horrible message to students about these tests. Granted I don't like them, but for now they have to be done. One sad thing is, that what happens to those who can't make it through those tests and what happens to the students who do pass the MCAS, where do they end up, because I am pretty sure that if I failed something like that I would drop out of school too! One test to see if you gaduate, what about all the other crap in school? Classes, tests, papers, all of school in general? If the MCAS is all that the state is concerned about, they should test everyone without sending them to school and see what happens. School might not help at all...who knows? I had someone comment on one of my other posts on how if you didn’t do well on those standardied tests, they would get in trouble. I think that is sending a totally horrible message to students about these tests. Granted I don’t like them, but for now they have to be done. One sad thing is, that what happens to those who can’t make it through those tests and what happens to the students who do pass the MCAS, where do they end up, because I am pretty sure that if I failed something like that I would drop out of school too! One test to see if you gaduate, what about all the other crap in school? Classes, tests, papers, all of school in general? If the MCAS is all that the state is concerned about, they should test everyone without sending them to school and see what happens. School might not help at all…who knows?

]]> By: corbmobile http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-4 corbmobile Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:14:44 +0000 http://anns311.wordpress.com/2007/01/31/more-testing-for-seniors/#comment-4 Part of my beef with this would be the multiple test-areas. In my opinion, and this is mabye a bit contravertial, high school curriculums should be more like college curriculums, insofar as is possible to do so. I don't mean in the difficulty level---I mean in the amount of choices students have over what they learn. The idea of a well rounded, liberal education, where everyone in high school has to learn about both Mendel and Marlowe at least once is all well and good, but I don't think it's really practical. Granted, even students going into chemistry need to know how to write a decent paper, but do they need to be able to identify the major themes of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? And students going into journalism or graphic design should probably know that radon is a dangerous chemical, but do they really need to be able to write out the chemical equation showing how radon bonds with nitrogen and oxygen. If we give students more choice about what they spend their time learning, I think we will have a lot less dropouts. Part of my beef with this would be the multiple test-areas. In my opinion, and this is mabye a bit contravertial, high school curriculums should be more like college curriculums, insofar as is possible to do so. I don’t mean in the difficulty level—I mean in the amount of choices students have over what they learn. The idea of a well rounded, liberal education, where everyone in high school has to learn about both Mendel and Marlowe at least once is all well and good, but I don’t think it’s really practical. Granted, even students going into chemistry need to know how to write a decent paper, but do they need to be able to identify the major themes of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? And students going into journalism or graphic design should probably know that radon is a dangerous chemical, but do they really need to be able to write out the chemical equation showing how radon bonds with nitrogen and oxygen. If we give students more choice about what they spend their time learning, I think we will have a lot less dropouts.

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