“What is the academic power of standards and tests besides supporting the high-stakes model of equality of opportunity?” (Spring, 178)
There is no power at all. Standardized tests take away from the typical classroom setting, and the teachers’ curriculums revolve completely around the tests.
“President Reagan’s secretary of education William Bennett would use his office as a bully pulpit to harangue educators to change their educational practices.” (Spring, 181)
This is a really annoying fact. I do not like when people use their power over other to take advantage. William Bennett was an attorney that became the Secretary of Education, while in office, he preached to educators to change their methods of teaching.
Coming in as a lawyer, what does he know about education? This position would be good to have an educator in because they know what is best for the students.
“Since testing required academic standards for measurements, state governments entered the business of establishing academic standards for each grade level.” (Spring, 182)
Ah… the standards! I do not recall ever seeing state standards in Technology Education (TE).
In TE the ‘Standards for Technological Literacy’ are on an international level. It is important that student get a chance to meet these standards. These standards are set to check a student understands of technology: the past, the present, and the future.
Technology is always changing and these standards need to change with it, thus it make the most sense to one set of international standards cover the entire world!
“No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandates a schedule, target populations, and reporting procedures for high-stakes testing and academic standards.” (Spring, 186)
I never fully understood what No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is and this quote seems to explain part of it.
From my understanding, school systems are required to test certain groups of students and report the results of the test(s). Does this at all entail testing those who are not supposed to be left behind? I would think that NCLB means that everyone should be tested not just groups of students.
“Cheating is likely as high-stakes testing is used to evaluate teachers and school administrators.” (Spring, 192)
Cheating on high stakes testing?? I thought this was against the rules. How can someone cheat on these tests…? I believe that the saying goes: if you cheat, you are only cheating yourself.
Additionally, what does it mean that the tests are evaluating teachers and school administrators? Are they testing to see if teachers can follow directions?
This quote really doesn’t make sense to me which is partially why I picked it.
“State and federal politicians are increasingly involved in issues of curriculum, methods of instruction, testing, and teacher certification” (Spring, 202)
Fantastic! These politicians sometime do not understand how ineffective the policies they create are. Politicians make policies without proper knowledge.
It would be good to get some educators to help make these decisions because they are actually in the classrooms. Teachers actually deal with students in the classroom and have the best position to make these decisions.
In response to
ReplyDelete"There is no power at all. Standardized tests take away from the typical classroom setting, and the teachers’ curriculums revolve completely around the tests.
I cannot stand that these tests as they take over everything."
I agree completely the way we are going anyone could walk in off the street and teach. Why do teachers need an education when its all going to be dictated anyways. I think that there needs to be more power at the district level. They will know what is best for the demographic of the area.
I think that the teachers should really have the choice of what is going into the curriculum. In technology education the teachers generally have to write their own curriculum because there are so many options. The TE curriculum, however, is not on the test.
ReplyDeleteI think that we are currently lucky due to the nature of technology education as you just stated. I fear the day if they ever give standardized test for TE. There are so many options and it’s fast passed, by the time a test is agreed on, made and given to much time has passed. It will make TE lackluster and almost always out of date.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is changing so fast that it only seems logical to test students on technology. Reading and math haven't changed in many years and why are students being tested on the same thing every year?
ReplyDelete