The Brattleboro Town school board is holding a public forum this coming Wednesday, 11/19, on the role and the effects of various standardized testing that takes place in our schools. This has been a point of lively discussion on iBrattleboro and it would be worth encouraging the school board to continue this process of public engagement by attending.
The forum takes place at Academy School on Wednesday, November 19, 6:00-7:30 pm.
Here is a link to the school board’s website:
http://www.brattleborotownschoolboard.org
Here is a link to a memo from the VT Secretary of Education related to testing:
The Wednesday forum agenda reads as follows:
Have the tests narrowed what is taught? Have they led to changes in teaching? How do we balance exploration–particularly at the early education age–with the required subjects? What is Brattleboro’s answer to balancing the requirements with what we want for our own children?Hear all about which tests and assessments are given to children, and at which ages, and what points during the year…. and what is federally or state required… and which assessments are done because teachers feel that they help guide their teaching to their specific students.
Andy Davis
Anyone go?
How did it go? What was the turnout? What answers were offered?
Yes, I went to the forum
The forum on “Testing Truths” was unfortunately not well attended. It could be general apathy, it could be lack of controversy, or it could be that the forum format has not been consistently developed to create a strong reason to attend. I was hoping for an opportunity to hear a variety of viewpoints from fellow educators, parents, administrators, and members of the community. The actual format was more of a presentation by the school administration explaining why testing is done and the good that has come from it.
The evening did address some of the school board’s posted agenda:
“Hear all about which tests and assessments are given to children, and at which ages, and what points during the year…. and what is federally or state required… and which assessments are done because teachers feel that they help guide their teaching to their specific students.”
There was not a format for handling the following part of the posted agenda:
“Have the tests narrowed what is taught? Have they led to changes in teaching? How do we balance exploration–particularly at the early education age–with the required subjects? What is Brattleboro’s answer to balancing the requirements with what we want for our own children?”
Good questions! I believe that a variety of honestly expressed viewpoints from all stakeholders (including staff, parents, administrators and the community) could help guide our community’s public schools. Ten years of testing has changed our public schools. Maybe iBrattleboro could serve as a venue for an ongoing discussion?
Thanks for the report
I didn’t go in part because I worried that it would be more of a presentation than a discussion.
I also thought about showing up with a stack of tests to hand out, to gauge how the room felt about a surprise quiz, but felt that testing everyone would make them uncomfortable. : )
I think it would be really useful if we could take some of these tests. I’ve seen some sample Common Core questions – some good, some weird – but would love to be able to take an entire test. I think it is the only way we’ll all know what we’re really talking about.
If I ran the schools I’d put together Grownup Testing Day when school board members, parents and public can come take one of the Common Core tests along with some local celebrity test-takers. Let kids be proctors for the exams. Feed people well. Allow for post-test feedback. Post the results for all to see.
The annual school reports show us that what is being taught is changing. Teachers tell us the tests have changed how subjects are taught.
I think early education is best when it aims to bring about joy, passion, and curiosity through multiple means of expression (words, numbers, art, song, sculpture). Right now it seems like we use early ed to do a bit of this, but mostly prep kids for the next stage of formal education, which to me is a wasted opportunity. We should allow a bit more freedom in the earlier years than we do, in my view. More play.
What do we want for our children? Many parents seem to want safe day care while they work, where their child will make progress toward a diploma so they can graduate and hopefully live a productive life.
Maybe the answer is creating greater opportunities for learning styles, rather than condensing things to a national sameness.
It is a discussion that’s been going on for hundreds of years, and will continue.
I’d like to see Common Core rejected and replaced with local ideas and materials, but I’m an education extremist… : )
School board vacancy
The Brattleboro Town School Board currently has a vacancy. If you – or someone you know – is interested in shaping the direction of our three elementary schools send a letter of interest to:
Brattleboro Town School Board, Chair
℅ WSESU
53 Green Street
Brattleboro, VT 05301
Letters should arrive by Monday, December 1. An opportunity to sit a policy making table until March 2015 when the seat will be filled election.