Fewer tests, more teaching

December 3, 2009

Teachers in our schools are feeling more stress and pressure than ever before. There are more state mandates, more district requirements and less support than ever. It is not physically possible for teachers to cover all they are asked to do in the course of the day, week, month or even a year.

Teachers are required to administer several tests throughout the year. Most of these tests are required under the accountability program called Differentiated Accountability, which incorporates the federal No Child Left Behind program and the State's A+ Plan.

Teachers must administer the FAIR reading exam three times a year to each student, the district reading assessment three times a year, a writing exam three times a year, the district math assessment three times a year, the Big Ideas math test eight times a year, a science exam three times a year, unit exams, end-of-course exams, the PSATs and the FCAT. That does not include spelling tests, vocabulary tests, teacher-made exams and quizzes, etc.

I think you get the idea.

Let's talk about the FAIR exam. The classroom teacher must administer this new test from the Florida Department of Education. In grades three through 12, students take the exam independently on the computer, but in kindergarten through second grade, the test must be administered one-on-one. It takes younger students an average of 30 to 45 minutes to complete the test, meaning the average class of 18 students will spend between nine and 13 1/2 hours three times a year taking this one test.

When you add all the other exams and the amount of time for those required, learning time for students is drastically impacted. I am all for accountability, but when so much time is spent testing students, how much time is actually left for teaching and learning?

Testing is important and does have its place. Teachers are able to use the data they collect on students to better tailor instruction.

However, when there is such a large amount of data, it is nearly impossible for teachers to find the time to pull all the data on their students, analyze it and then determine what strategies they need to focus on so their students will be successful. The amount of time lost to testing is only one frustration teachers are feeling.

Our teachers are knowledgeable, dedicated individuals who want what is best for our students. Please contact your elected officials and tell them to stop over-testing our children and start providing real resources.

I know that we can bring about change that truly reforms our schools and ensures that we move away from an education system that is a factory model, where everyone is expected to learn the same, to an education system that encourages students to be independent thinkers who can take on the world.

Andrew Spar of Ormond Beach is president of the Volusia Teachers Organization.

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