I thought I might add this one bit of information that I neglected to say....these standardized tests decide weather or not the kids are PROMOTED to the next grade! "These ain't your mamma's standardized tests!" When we were growing up, we had the tests, and were given the "Get plenty of sleep and eat a good breakfast" speech....now they add in "And don't forget if you don't pass the test, you don't pass the grade, and if you do poorly our school will not receive the funds it needs and the teachers will get a cut in pay and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT!" So you can see my frustration.
I would love nothing better than to go in there and tell them exactly what they can do with their #2 pencils....Last year over 200 senior students got unsigned diplomas because they didn't pass the FCATS and had to take summer school then retest...and retest until they passed! You've got all A's and B's? Wow, that's great....too bad you didn't pass the test....see you next year!
Of course, the amount of money a school recieves as a "bonus" rides on the performance of the kids as well....along with the grade of the school (we are an "A" school or we are an "F" school). And the lower the grade, the less money the school gets....where is the logic in that???? It seems to me that the schools with the lower scores need the money more than the higher scoring schools. They need the programs to help the kids. There was one county who's A schools donated their money to the F schools to help them out....but that is not the case everywhere.
Someone asked me about recess....HA! They are lucky if they get 20 minutes at the end of the day before the busses come to unwind. They are pushing and pushing these kids. And yes, they do repeat over and over to them that if they don't do well, they fail. What ever happened to positive reinforcement? I am shifting into happy mode until these tests are over. I am telling wee one that I am so proud of her for working so hard, and that she will do just fine. I'm going to tell her to relax and not to worry....that trying her best is all she can do and that I love her....
Tomorrow morning she is going to a book fair with my aunt. She just loves doing things like that. They will have a ball as they usually do. They love going out together taking bike rides or cooking together. Whenever my aunt wants to do something with her, she will call and ask if she can come out and play....lol. She also sent home a print out of the art camps that are being offered at the museum this summer, and told her to pick out the one she wants to go to. Wee one was so excited. She loved going last year. It's right downtown, across from a pretty courtyard with fountains....she thought that was pretty cool.
I am so sick of pecan pie. I bought one the other day and have been picking at it here and there. I had never had it until five years ago, and since then I get it on Christmas or Thanksgiving. Well, they had them on sale the other day at the store and I thought what the heck....so I bought it. Silly, silly me. I've bee picking at pecans all week! LOL....I just threw the thing away.
Okay, I've got to get working around here....have a good one!
17 comments:
I agree they put too much stress on kids. I would like ot suggest a book for you to read. YOu can buy at amazon OR you can ask your library to get it on interlibrary loan if they dont carry it. The name of the book is called understanding the times. Its by David A Noebel. Done by summit publishing. It talks about the agenda and how public schools got started and why. Its very eyeopening. it talks alot about that and how it came from marixism. even if you leave your child in public schools it is great information that has helped many friends who had kids in public schools to better understand and helped them fight the battles. Also great history too. But YOu read and are shocked and understand better what you are dealing wtih. will keep you in prayer too. Lori
That is awful that you have to pass the test to be promoted. Is it the same at the private schools. No wonder the kids get software etc. to study for those stupid tests. AAAARGH! {{{{{{Wee One and Sherry}}}}}
We have those tests in Texas. If the kids fail, they fail the grade. The pressure put on the kids is huge. The results of the tests are even broadcast on the news. It's absurd. I understand what Wee One is feeling. It's the same way in Texas.
that is way too much pressure on the children. I would hire a tutor to help her if she is having probelms. Private school is the best way to go if you can find a good one priced reasohnably. My heart goes out to you and her..I wish more parents took an interest in childrens eductation.
The very issue of standardized testing bothers me to no end. There was a professor of high education that spoke on it at Purdue University, and it almost makes me want to home school my kids or at least put them in private school. What are we raising our children up to be? Setting standards that are too high, putting pressure on our babies like that, are we robbing them of their childhood? Does childhood end when kindergarten starts? Not for my kids...
Tell Wee One I said, "Chin Up!" You are brilliant, spunky and full of life! Don't let one test decide your life for you, have fun, do the best you can in all you do, and that is enough, it's all God requires, don't give any more or any less. Jesus says, "Do not worry!" You are so loved and that is all that matters!
~Erin
i cant believe that it promotes them, its horrible!!! They have to take it every year? Our kids take tests but i believe it gives an idea where the kids are in our district. I think that if a child is doing well in school and fails the test wont be promoted is crazy!! Good teachers test first then teach. I really do not believe that tests tell how a child is doing. They could be tired, or just do not want to take it and that throws the whole thing off. this is crazy no wonder why shes so upset. heather,
this state is so screwed up...they focus too much on this stupid FCAT...ive been dealing with it eversince i went to haleys school...years back..><...but they never had if so if you didnt pass it you didnt pass the grade...thats a new thing they are doin....they freak people out over this stupid test and yet most of the stuff they try to teach you to prepare for it..isnt even on the test...ive christmas treed a good portion of these tests over the years ive taken them cause i had no idea what they were talking about...i dont see any point to this test but to stress people out....they should just stick to the usual subjects that are taught cause people have enough stress just tryin to understand that...evil mo fo's...its a conspieracy i tell ya...CONSPIERACY!!!!...its some evil secret government operation i know it..o.o......
-Kristin-
When Josh went thru this, I was VERY upset just like you. Have you looked up standerdized testing on the net? Most of the sites you find on it are how unfair the testing is...how the schools are letting other nessassary learning fall to the side because of this test. It's very interesting...
I am proud of Wee One too, not only for speaking up...but for trying her best.
*hugs*
Please do not be offended by this - I honestly know how you feel. I felt the same as you do now before we moved to Europe but after living here for 3 years and having my kids in the public schools, I can say ... they are kicking our a@@ in education. The US system needs to get away from hurt feelings and butterflies and rainbows if you know what I mean and get down to seriously educating our kids. My youngest (now 9 - 6 when we moved) has had his papers torn up in front of the whole class because it was "messy" while the teacher told everyone he was lazy (he skipped kindergarten in the States because he was advanced for his age - maybe a bad decision on my part because that's where they practice forming their letters correctly) but now his writing is beautiful. They don't mince words here and the outcome is, my kids have all adjusted to it and are exceling academically. My 9 year old is doing Geometry -- my 12 year old is making better grades in French than her french classmates --- my 16 year old was bored in the States but now is on a scientific track and has hours of homework every night. They were only so-so students in the US. We are moving back to the US in the summer and I hope to keep them challenged somehow. The good news is the US excels at the college level. I hope we can all embrace challenging our kids to do better -- they are tough and they really can take it -- they need it! BTW, I love your journal :-)
Long-winded-me also meant to add that students here also have to pass a test to go from middle school to high school and have to pass a test to get their diploma.
Ugh, Alana takes the FCAT next week also... I don't like it and I think the same exact thing as you about the failing schools getting less money... doesn't make any sense! I think they should all get the same money, based on the amount of students and that's it. I haven't noticed Alana getting pushed the way Wee-One is... doesn't sound like she's got the most compassionate teacher. At least she can look forward to Art Camp :)~Melissa
yes our tests are the same..you don't get promoted. But Sherry...my son did terrible on the reading and he still passed the test. They said he had a second grade reading level. Teach her the process of elimination. There's always two bad answers and two close answers and one is closer. I have never heard of pecan pie. I really don't know how a test can decide if a kid should be promoted or not. What if she has dyslexia or something like that. Would she stay in third grade forever?
Thanks for the clarification on the sucky FCATS you all have to do in Florida. I would seriously be home schooling my kids if I lived there. Totall unfair! I make pecan pies for other people on Thanksgiving all the time. I have never tried one because I know what goes into them, nothing but gross stuff (to me at least)! I am the one picking at the pecans before they even get into the pie though, I am guilty of that! That art camp sounds absolutely WONDERFUL for Wee One! I wish they had something like that around here for Bethany to attend during the Summer. She is very talented and I think would be excited about that type of program.
Hugs and love, Lisa
Sherry, I too am a Florida parent of 3 teens. My oldest aced the FCAT's in 10th grade (now in college) my 11th grader just took the math FCAT last week and thinks she passed it, but she is under a lot of stress because she is supposed to graduate next year. Also, if they don't pass the FCAT in the 10th grade, they are forced to take a special class designed for the FCAT for NO credit! My Katie had to take this class twice, using up valuable credit hours just to push FCAT. She says that the class didn't help her as much as the afterschool tutoring I made her get. It is a messed up system. If you don't pass the test in your senior year then you get a "certificate of completion" in place of a high school diploma, unless you go to summer school and then retake it. Please Lord, I hope she passed it! Can you imagine the stress of a senior having to take the FCAT? There has been so much controversy lately and complaining students, parents and teachers that there has got to be a change in the near future. Lets keep our fingers crossed!
Barbara from Plant City.
It's the same thing here....if you don't pass these tests you don't get promoted and they get reminded of that here on a daily basis also. Back to the good ol' days I say!
In middle school here they don't have recess at all which I don't get. They were trying to cut out recess for the elementary kids until some of us parents starting making a noise about that one. Kids need to be outside and just be kids!
Gretchen
http://livinginsavannah.blogspot.com/
that seems like an awful lot of stress for the poor kids, what happened to childhood being enjoyable and education being fun! Big hugs sent to wee one :),,,,,,,,Jules xxxxxx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/jules19642001/Itsmylife/
http://journals.aol.com/chatzeekay/LifeandLessons/
Sorry I had not been here ben busy with things blowing thorugh here saying hello to you and the famliy lol Oh camp sounds fun I wish I can go
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