Interversity Quotes"I think it's time to ask the Standardistos: Where's the test for compassion? For honesty? For curiosity? For moral commitment? Until they can answer, let's tell them to shut up." —Susan Ohanian (One Size Fits Few: The Folly of Educational Standards) Interversity ProjectsEchoes of Orwell:The purpose of this webforum is to promote a lively discussion among students and faculty alike about George Orwell's 1984 and the parallels or echoes found in today's society. |
[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index] Nuke Wassie the Whale
There' s a motto for you... Nuke Wassie the Whale You wouldn't need to come in evenings and weekends for WASL tutoring or hold meetings to explain the thing, or have a Commission on Student Learning to design the thing or a whole bunch of other nonsense. To: wa-ed-deform@egroups.com From: jedoyon@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 00:56:55 EDT Send reply to: wa-ed-deform@egroups.com Subject: Re: [wa-ed-deform] Parent's rights vs. harmful material and practices [ Double-click this line for list subscription options ] No, actually I mean I find it "harmful" to my children to take the WASL no matter how the test is to be used. It is harmful for them to miss a month or more of normal instruction time for test prep and test taking. It is harmful for them (at least in 4th grade) to be expected to comprehend math and writing problems beyond their abilities. Here is the analogy I am fond of using to expound on my thinking: The principal of my two 6th graders elementary school is the proud creator of Wassie the Whale. This is a blue stuffed animal related to the book of the same name, written by this same principal and his wife. This book and the mascot that go with it are meant to allay the fear and apprehension on the part of 4th grade WASL takers (as well as, I suppose, the 3rd grade takers of the "mini-WASL") I compare the cute, little stuffed whale comforter to the teddy bears given by policemen to traumatized child victims of auto accidents or domestic violence. If the WASL was a test of reasonable knowledge and ability, that our children build up by 4th grade, would Wassie be necessary? I don't think so. The emphasis and use of the test is a totally different matter. I am talking pure, objectionable, confusing content! It's in there! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the ARN-L list, send command SIGNOFF ARN-L to LISTSERV@LISTS.CUA.EDU.
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