To the Editor:
Although our future is essentially shaped around the education we receive, public education is being systematically sabotaged. Common Core along with High Stakes Standardized testing has been and continues to undermine our public schools. The standardized testing fib if continued to be overlooked, unquestioned and unchallenged imposes serious and lasting consequences for our schools, our children and our future.
My name is Melissa Goneau. I grew up in East Freetown, Massachusetts then moved to Colorado in 2007. It was in Colorado when I first noticed something was terribly wrong within my children’s school district. I was fortunate that I was able to spend time observing at their school. I would attend meetings, ask questions and research. I began to realize NCLB (no child left behind) had nothing to do with the educational needs for our children but everything to do with financial gains and control. In 2009, RTTT (race to the top) came along, basically baiting states with funds in exchange for adoption of the new standards and curriculum known as Common Core. Again, it was never about educating our children; it has always been about complete control over curriculum, resources, teachers training and other assessment tools, creating a monopoly over the “public educational market.” The problem lies in the fact that we have transferred the crucial responsibility of forming guidelines and monitoring the educational system to test publishers who have NO accountability. Business leaders and policymakers who are far removed from students have superseded the role in professional educators by making vital decisions that impact our children. Requiring every child to conform to preconceived standards of achievement weakens and damages independent thinking and threatens the principle of democracy.
The emphasis on high “test scores” denies the basic fundamental value of learning and minimizes the educational process. We must anticipate more for our children other then correct answers on a multiple choice test. Our communities ought to provide a challenging, meaningful and personalized educational experience that endures a sense of purpose and responsibility in our children now and future generations. Our children’s natural curiosity and love for learning is being destroyed, while funds are being diverted out of schools and into testing/publishing companies. This BILLION $$ industry causes more harm than good to our most vulnerable/valuable members of society. Standardized tests are currently acclaimed “the answers” to teacher accountability, higher student achievement, standards and expectations. Testing has become a substitute for curriculum instead of a simple measure of it. The curriculum is being narrowed, reducing time on social studies, art, music, physical education, lunch and recess, etc. in order to cover the subject represented on the test. Learning is becoming restricted to memorization of facts, simple single solutions and mindless thinking. Every child thinking and performing the same way is NOT a sign of a quality education. High Stakes Testing in fact reduces accountability in that it relies solely on test scores, imposing destructive consequences and ignoring all other factors that contribute to a successful school. Standardized tests can only measure a small portion of what makes education meaningful. These tests cannot measure creativity, critical thinking, resilience, motivation, persistence, curiosity, endurance, reliability, enthusiasm, empathy, self-awareness, self-discipline, leadership, civic mindedness, courage, compassion, resourcefulness, sense of wonder, honesty and integrity. Instead of educational improvement, intrinsic motivation is being destroyed by putting standardized testing first instead of our students and educators.
Educators have lost their rights and voices in promoting learning that is individualized, challenging and meaningful. They now have all the accountability and none of the authority. Standardized Tests don’t increase expectations; parents, teachers and communities determine expectations for children and the quality of their learning. A genuine, devoted educator is aware of the importance of modifying instruction in order to engage students and support individuals’ unique needs and talents. Accurate accountability is realized from informed and committed communities, through local control, the school election process, school accountability teams and parental involvement. The funding and, most importantly, the time spent on these tests could be put to better use. School districts carry the most expensive burden of administering these lengthy exams along with hidden costs including teacher training, test prep guides, time spent in class learning particular test format, test taking strategies and proctoring the actual test. Most districts use additional standardized test such as Dibles, Galileo, etc. exacting an outrageous amount of money at the taxpayers’ expense.
For the last four years I have chosen not to have my children participate in High Stakes standardized testing. My hope is more parents will share my concerns and understand how public schools are being forced to administrate a test that holds little benefit to their students. I ask that you do your own research and consider the risks we are taking by allowing anyone other than parents and educators to decide what is best when it comes to our children’s education and future. I moved back home in the summer of 2014, and I have to admit I believe the Tri-Town has some of the better schools, although I would be naive to believe “my” public school is immune from the ties to common core and the standardized test prepping. If we neglect creative students in school because of test movement and conformity then we become underachievers. High stakes standardized testing is a small piece of a much larger puzzle which threatens the future of the children it is meant to serve. I have been hearing for years from school administrators and educators “our hands are tied.” Always remember there is power in numbers. I think somehow we forgot that we are the majority and have the numbers.
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Melissa Goneau, Rochester
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