The Multi-Billion Dollar Testing Industry has done it again. The industry continues to usurp precious resources out of local schools when districts are forced to lay off teachers, discontinue programs for children and eliminate field trips. But beyond the fiscal crimes inflicted on schools that restrict children’s opportunities, the industry makes a mockery out of the whole education enterprise.
And they’re laughing all the way to the bank.
The latest, but certainly not the last, scorned school district is right here in our backyard.
The Atlanta Public Schools “cheating scandal” is scandalous, but not necessarily for the reasons spewed from mouths of people not looking beyond their noses. The embarrassment and shame comes from the fact that multinational private testing corporations are determining the fate of our children, youth, educators and future.
It is widely known in educational research that the tests are poorly written, often scored incorrectly and by noneducators, and often evaluate pre-existing knowledge rather than content learned in school. It is also well-documented that textbooks and other materials written to prepare students to take the tests are low in educational quality and experience, but very high in price, often costing millions of dollars for a school district to adopt a new textbook.
I am not talking about any kind of test you may have taken as a student before 2002 when the No Child Left Behind legislation was implemented. Many of you may have taken an annual standardized test in school that was used at the state and national level to document trends in achievement, not your individual fate as a student, nor the fate of the teacher and the school.
I recall being told the night before my annual Iowa Test of Basic Skills to “get a good night’s rest,” and “eat a good breakfast.” The morning of the test we would receive two brand new No. 2 pencils and get to work. No pressure. No anxiety. No life-altering consequences for the performance on one test on one day.
George W. Bush’s bipartisan legislation ended all that, and the only ones who have benefited are those in the testing industry.
Now Georgia kindergarteners know about the CRCT, and students take practice tests all year long. Children vomit. Parents cry. Teachers vomit and cry.
What can be done?
● Opt out of testing: Parents have started opting out of state testing all over the country, sending the message that they disagree with the high-stakes nature of the tests and how the tests have distorted teaching and learning. I could not locate an opt-out procedure for Georgia, but if hundreds or thousands of parents kept their children out of school during state testing, surely someone would pay attention.
● Talk to other parents and caretakers in your school and neighborhood: Most people are suffering in silence — handling anxious and depressed children at home on their own without talking to others who are likely experiencing the same thing. Families know the damage done to their children and grandchildren by the testing environments at school. Organize yourselves and make your voices heard.
● Tell your legislators merit pay for teachers based on test scores will only make things worse. This is important if you are in a Race to the Top District that will begin using some version of merit pay this year.
● If you are a teacher or administrator, consider organizing other educators (and families) to end high-stakes testing. Without union protection this can be risky, but folks in other countries have done so successfully.
● Join the Save Our Schools organization of parents, educators and concerned citizens. SOS will be marching on Washington on July 30 demanding fundamental changes to education, including the end of high-stakes testing.
The APS cheating scandal is being touted as the largest one in the country, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking Atlanta (or Georgia for that matter) is the only place facing serious accusations of cheating on high-stakes tests and abusive behavior toward teachers and children. Cheating on tests has increased significantly over the past several years. This was an entirely predictable trend since test scores started being used to evaluate public schools, teachers and students with unbearable consequences.
In 2002 the multibillion-dollar testing industry gained control over our schools, educators and youth. We may be witnessing the education equivalent to the foreclosure crisis, where high profits and compensation in private multinational corporations take priority over the children filing into public schools every day. But we can stop the madness before another generation suffers.
Stephanie Jones is an associate professor and graduate coordinator in the Department of Elementary and Social Studies Education at the University of Georgia and co-director of the CLASSroom Project at UGA.
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