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Anyone who lives in or around NJ and pays attention to public affairs has heard of the PARCC Test. It has been blasted on the radio almost 24/7 and every day there is a new news article about some Marshmallow or his mother raging out against it. PARCC is basically just a test to evaluate student performance. We took them every year in school, except back then it was called the CAT test. Anyway, these parents and kids are demanding that they should be able to "opt out" of testing because it would cause "anxiety". Seriously? Are they going to opt out of their jobs later if it causes them anxiety? I had more than one job interview where they gave me and on-the-spot test. How is that for pressure, marshmallows? No wonder the US is lagging behind every other developed country in basic academic skills. Don't worry, we can just spend more money on schools and make it all better.
Seems to be the drug of choice there, I prefer living some place less stressful. As for the school testing, I never interacted with it while I lived there, but I have never been a fan of the constant testing of school children because after a while all they are being taught is how to pass standardized testing rather than being educated.
Anyone who lives in or around NJ and pays attention to public affairs has heard of the PARCC Test. It has been blasted on the radio almost 24/7 and every day there is a new news article about some Marshmallow or his mother raging out against it. PARCC is basically just a test to evaluate student performance. We took them every year in school, except back then it was called the CAT test. Anyway, these parents and kids are demanding that they should be able to "opt out" of testing because it would cause "anxiety". Seriously? Are they going to opt out of their jobs later if it causes them anxiety? I had more than one job interview where they gave me and on-the-spot test. How is that for pressure, marshmallows? No wonder the US is lagging behind every other developed country in basic academic skills. Don't worry, we can just spend more money on schools and make it all better.
The difference is that you did one test, but kids now take between 10 an 20 tests a years vs. the one that you took. That many tests means much of the academic year is spent preparing for testing and not merely covering the curriculum.
The PARCC test is different from the testing that many of us did when we were in school. In no way does it benefit students or teachers. The results don't even come in until the following year so it's not used to evaluate students and then help them in areas that they may be struggling. The test benefits the corporations that put out the test and then subsequently sell the schools new curriculum when not enough kids do well on the test. Parents are opting out because they are fed up with using teachers and students as corporate pawns in this ridiculous game that has more to do with lining the pockets of corporations and has nothing at all to do with education.
Anyone who lives in or around NJ and pays attention to public affairs has heard of the PARCC Test. It has been blasted on the radio almost 24/7 and every day there is a new news article about some Marshmallow or his mother raging out against it. PARCC is basically just a test to evaluate student performance. We took them every year in school, except back then it was called the CAT test. Anyway, these parents and kids are demanding that they should be able to "opt out" of testing because it would cause "anxiety". Seriously? Are they going to opt out of their jobs later if it causes them anxiety? I had more than one job interview where they gave me and on-the-spot test. How is that for pressure, marshmallows? No wonder the US is lagging behind every other developed country in basic academic skills. Don't worry, we can just spend more money on schools and make it all better.
Did you do any research at all apart from listening to the ads? There is a lot more to it than what you surmise.
Testing allows teachers and parents the ability to see what the children have learned and what they need to improve upon. Students can also see this for themselves. It gives confirmation of their competency in the subjects tested.
The problem is that too many students now are incompetent and tests are a shameful reminder of this. So in the minds of the stupid, the test is the problem.
Did you do any research at all apart from listening to the ads? There is a lot more to it than what you surmise.
I listened to people drone on about it day after day until I had to switch my radio to my iPod. Did the company get a lot of state money? Yes. Was the company politically connected? Probably. But that's no different from any other government contract.
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