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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
If your child is in a testing grade and you ARE allowing them to test what is the reason behind this?
My DD is in third grade and is on schedule to test next week. She is a 3/4 student, doesn't get anxious over tests or results but may or may not do well on these exams as if she is tired or distracted on the day it will be game over.
The results of the tests will not impact her psyche in any way. The only thing that would impact her or upset her is if the teacher was to demean her in any way if she does not do well but I don't believe this will happen. I have told her that the tests are being given so they can check to make sure the teacher is teaching her well.
We were on vacation last week and her teacher gave her some homework - mostly ELA centered as she will be testing next week. I had trouble understanding some of the passages and the questions they were asking and so did my DD. They didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to some of the questions or the expected answers and to me they seem to be above grade level and are basically setting the kids up to fail.
Sorry so long winded...SO based on the fact that I really dont care if my DD does well on these tests or not and she wont be concerned either way, that I think they are not appropriate for her grade level and that I am not an "opt out" parent and I feel that it would make DD feel isolated if she did not participate in these tests what are some reasons for me to opt her out?
That even though my DD may or may not do well on them is irrelevant to me but it may be relevant to another child so I should step up for them?
That there are kids in her class who are at best a 1 or a 2 so they most likely will not do well in these tests so I should step up for them?
That her teacher is teaching to test and not to enhance their love of learning and maybe under pressure to "make" her kids do well in the tests so I should step up for her?
That the government is taking the power from the teachers and the schools and turning this into a money making business so I should step up for this?
That there is nothing really to gain from these tests so why are they doing them?
All of these points are the points that are swirling around my head at the moment. I know my DD's teacher would not agree with any of these points over her school email but I would love to catch her in the parking lot and get an unedited opinion from her on what she feels about testing her kids in this way.
Any other points that anyone would like to make? Anyone else on the fence about this like I am ?
TIA
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Posted 4/10/15 1:14 PM  |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
Great post. 
As a teacher, I can tell you that your child's teacher cannot tell you her opinion of the tests, and most likely won't for fear of being reprimanded.
If you really want to know where she stands, ask her if her children will be taking the tests. That she can honestly answer. 
Message edited 4/10/2015 1:31:42 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/15 1:31 PM |
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beachgirl
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name:
sara
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
Thanks...she just has a baby so it will be nearly 8 years before her child has to be tested and who knows what will be going on in schools then.
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| Posted 4/10/15 2:19 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
Then ask her hypothetically what she would do this year.
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| Posted 4/10/15 3:35 PM |
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cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
I'm a mom and a teacher. As mentioned above we have been instructed to not share our true feelings about these tests and we certainly cannot suggest that any child should "refuse" aka opt out. Our union did tell us like mentioned above that we can say, as a parent i am opting my own child out or if I had a school aged child I would be opting them out. Sadly teachers need to be very careful what they say to parents. In other words we essentially have a gag order on us.
I can't stress enough just how unfair and unethical this test is even if you feel your child will do well. I could go on a rant giving dozens of reasons why all children should refuse this test (AKA starve the beast of data lol). I honestly believe that there is not 1 solid reason for ANYONE (a 1 student or a 4 student) to take this test. The political ulterior motives behind this test are mind blowing and honestly quite sickening. Cuomo is simply using our children to fulfill his agenda of destroying public education.
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| Posted 4/10/15 7:53 PM |
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cj7305
=)
Member since 8/05 12296 total posts
Name:
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
BTW some people I know, opt their child out and then keep them home during the test or bring them to school after the test if they feel that their child will feel isolated if they are not taking it. If you do this however make sure that your child is on the refusal list and not just absent or they will be given the test on a make up day.
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| Posted 4/10/15 7:55 PM |
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CallaLily
Thank you, Saint Gerard!
Member since 10/07 4937 total posts
Name:
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
Posted by beachgirl
That her teacher is teaching to test and not to enhance their love of learning and maybe under pressure to "make" her kids do well in the tests so I should step up for her?
That the government is taking the power from the teachers and the schools and turning this into a money making business so I should step up for this?
That there is nothing really to gain from these tests so why are they doing them?
All of these points are the points that are swirling around my head at the moment. I know my DD's teacher would not agree with any of these points over her school email but I would love to catch her in the parking lot and get an unedited opinion from her on what she feels about testing her kids in this way.
Any other points that anyone would like to make? Anyone else on the fence about this like I am ?
TIA
These are excellent points. As a parent and veteran teacher, I can tell you that these are truly valid concerns. It's difficult for people who are not in the field of education to see the changes that have been made over the last three years, but I can tell you, they have not been for the better. With this new reform, it is going to get much, much worse. So many people think that these tests will not impact their children. So much class time has been devoted to prepping these poor kids for this developmentally inappropriate and flawed test already. Teachers have lost so much of our ability to let the students truly create and think. Now, with 50% of a teacher's evaluation being tied to the scores (and that's a growth score, btw, so even though your child may do well on the tests, unless they improve, they will receive a negative score. If your child gets a 4, which is the highest, and maintains that the following year, they technically show "no growth"), and the daily lessons and observations counting for nothing or next to nothing, you are going to be amazed at how much prep time is devoted to these ridiculous tests. So many parents have seen their children changing, struggling and hating school in the last few years. I truly feel for these poor kids if these tests are not stopped and control is not returned back to the district and to the professionals who are truly trained to work with the kids. Cuomo's ultimate goal (with the help of other non-educators like Pearson, The Dolan family, and Bill Gates) is to privatize education. The Times recently put out a very interesting article on Success Charter Schools- the schools that Cuomo would like to see take over public education. I would read it and see if you would want your child "educated" in schools like these. This reform will impact everyone, not just the teachers. Refusing the tests is the last hope for these kids.
ETA: The fact that principals and superintendents are sending letters of concern to the state and sending subtle messages to their own communities urging parents to opt out should be a huge wake up call to the potential disaster that this will become.
Message edited 4/10/2015 9:21:00 PM.
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| Posted 4/10/15 9:17 PM |
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Re: If you are NOT refusing testing..why not?
I am NJ and this year was the first year of PARCC test. It is our state test. I did not opt out because nobody knows what the tests will be used for. Even the teachers are not sure.
This test replaced another state test. That test was used for placement for the following year. We are not anticipated to get the grades until the fall.
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| Posted 4/22/15 12:51 PM |
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