I have before me on my embarrassingly cluttered desk (one of three desks of the same ilk- clutter is a hobby-no, an avocation!) the results of our child’s Standardized Testing and Reporting Program test.  My teacher friends will continue to be irritated by me- I like this.  I like having these results.

I know- it’s awful that I like them.  After all, am I not the snarky commenter about education reform?  Aren’t these tests a gigantic step backwards in education, perpetrated by the Bush Administration, and possibly (only rumors) by a partnership between Karl Rove AND dead-eye Dick Cheney?  Shouldn’t I be ashamed of myself?

Maybe. But I’m really not. And I don’t believe these tests, by themselves, are evil.  

Certainly these tests, like any evaluation, can be misused.  To believe that this test is perfectly and scientifically accurate is foolish.  To base education policy solely on this test is even worse.  And to base teacher’s compensation on these results is stupid and unfair.

But I like having them.  I like to know how our child compares to his peers.  This one of the ways parents can see if there child needs help, and if so, where are the areas help could be effective.

As a businessman, I do believe in accountability.  I like to see the API scores of schools in (and out) of our area.  I like to know there is some minimum education standard students must meet before they successfully graduate from our public school system.  

STAR testing is a good thing.  Misuse of the data is not.

 

Share/Save/Bookmark