Again With the Testing

[thisnewday]

[The following is an excerpt from a Syracuse.com article on the recent controversy over state-mandated math and ELA testing which is being done to measure compliance with national "Common Core" standards. Following that is my comment which also appeared on the Syracuse.com website.]


A Phoenix Central School District mother said she opted her four children out of the tests. She kept three of her children home because Phoenix has a "sit and stare" policy, which requires students to sit and stare at their desks while their classmates take the tests. The mother said she sent her youngest daughter to school but kept her three older children home during the tests.

"My daughter returned home upset and crying," she said in an email. "When I asked her what the problem was she stated they would not given gum or candy because she did not take the test. Of course as a parent I was heartbroken even though it's just a piece of gum or candy it still represents a whole lot more. I am disgusted with my school district."

My grandson, who is a 6th grade student in the Syracuse City School District, plays in an elite youth soccer league. His team recently lost in the league championship series. He and his teammates had to stand along the sidelines and watch as their league rivals received their trophies.

He and his teammates and their parents all had tears in their eyes. Nothing this tragic had ever before happened in their lives and, hopefully, would never happen again. However, all of us have agreed to participate in group counseling, just in case.

In other news, my grandson took the first part of his state math test today and afterward said that his little brother, who is 4, could have passed it. And so, apparently, life goes on...

LPK
LiveJournal
4.23.2015 (a)

Comments

[halfmoon-mollie.livejournal.com]

If I had kids, I would let them opt out of the testing. I don't know if I'd keep them home or not. I have a good friend who is a teacher. For that matter, in a former life I believe YOU were a teacher. I think all the testing that's being done...well, never mind.

Your grandson is being taught sportsmanship. How to act when you win is almost as important as how to act when you lose- hopefully your grandson will not be calling anyone racist names when he gets older and is in the public spotlight. A few tears when you lose, well, that's not a disgrace. Honest emotion is always good.

*steps down from soapbox*