It's no problem if they shrug their shoulders and move on, but, you know the type, some people will just stand over your shoulder and criticize your efforts and tell you how they would do it until you finally break and give in. You try it their way (again, because you already did it once), they observe how difficult the task really is, and move on. Still, sometimes they insist that you're missing something and perhaps try to get their hands in on the task in another effort. Finally, they give up, and you start all over, unless you give up and leave them to figure out on their own what you've already figured out... before you had to start all over.
Do I need to make the connection to everyone pushing the test-based accountability movement?
So far, I see no significant mainstream political or media push-back against the building momentum of excessive testing in public education. The push back exists, and in large numbers, but it hasn't gained enough traction to translate into policy. Perhaps there is hope. Texas has generated a great deal of publicity with the 300+ school districts that have passed a resolution opposing the prominent place that high-stakes testing have taken in public education. Now, 'Time out for Testing' has created a national resolution modeled after the Texas resolution and so far over 3000 individuals have signed on and over 150 organizations.
Read the resolution and decide whether you agree with the ideas presented. If so, add your name to the list of signatories and encourage others to join you in adding a voice to the movement to restore sanity to public education by placing standardized testing in its proper place.
Signed Sealed Delivered...
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