Re: foolish and harmful

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

 At 11:01 PM 4/9/2007 -0700, you wrote:

  I understand that 42 states do not test 2nd graders at this time. Is that
  true?


Correct. According to Education Week (?Quality Counts 2006?), besides California
only eight states (out of 51, counting D.C.) mandate testing of second graders.
Not only that, California 2nd graders are on average younger than those in other
states, because we allow kindergarten entrance at an earlier age.



  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "George Sheridan" <learn@jps.net>
  To: <ca-resisters@serv1.ncte.org>; <ca-resisters@interversity.org>
  Cc: <ARN-l@interversity.org>
  Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 10:38 PM
  Subject: [ca-resisters] foolish and harmful


  > If you live in California, please call, write or email members of the
  Assembly
  > Education Committee to oppose AB 1353 (Huff) a measure to extend STAR
  testing of
  > second graders beyond the current sunset date of July 1, 2007. It's
  especially
  > important to get parents and teachers of primary-age children to contact
  members
  > of the Assembly Education Committee in opposition to this bill.
  >
  > The Assembly Education Committee will hold a hearing on AB 1353 Wednesday,
  April
  > 18 in the afternoon. Members of the public will be able to speak at the
  end of
  > the hearing.
  >
  > Of all the foolish and harmful pieces of legislation created in the name
  of
  > "accountability," this is one of the most foolish and harmful. Testing of
  > children below third grade is notoriously unreliable, so the results would
  be of
  > little value to the state or to districts even if one wholeheartedly
  accepted the
  > value of the larger testing enterprise. Thus the tests represent a waste
  of
  > millions of dollars and tens of thousands of student hours diverted from
  > instruction. But even more seriously, this is an alien and alienating
  experience
  > for some of these young children. The impersonal conditions of the test
  preclude
  > answering their questions or providing any feedback or encouragement for
  their
  > work. Such negative experiences can affect their relationship to school
  for a
  > long time to come.
  >
  > The California Department of Education wants the test, however. The
  Director of
  > the Division of Standards and Assessment explained that without the test,
  there
  > would be no way to know until children are entering fourth grade whether
  or not
  > they can read.
  >
  > The California Assembly Education Committee:
  >
  > Mullin, Gene (Chair)
  > Sarah Ramirez, Chief of Staff
  > Phone:(916) 319 2019
  > FAX(916) 319 2119




  <SNIP>

George Sheridan
Northside School
Cool, California 95614