Standardized tests are used to measure the performance of schools, and teachers — not individual teachers. They serve as a benchmark, so that marks given by one teacher can be compared to those given by other teachers. Without standardized tests, we (parents, students) have no way of knowing whether the teacher is actually teaching — rather than just passing out high marks to keep everyone contented.-Most of the negative things you hear about standardized tests come from the teacher’s unions. Strange how teachers want you to believe that they can measure what student’s learn — but, they also want us to believe that no one can measure teachers’ performance. (BTW, I was a certified teacher before retirement.)
My uncle is a retired teacher, now 93. He was so brilliant, he was being hired as a substitute teacher while still in high school! He went on to be superintendent of schools, and under curriculum he set forth, I was reading Poe and Shakespeare in elementary school and middle school. By grade 7, I’d read to ‘Kill A Mockingbird’, a book kids now read only in the 11th or 12th grade here. Todays standards have declined far too much, mostly due to politicians input, I feel.
@ J. Short: indeed! Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone! We oldsters remember Jethro Tull, too: “We will be geared to the average rather than the exceptional.”
We will “lose ground” in anything controlled by the government, unless the subject activity primarily involves killing people, constraining freedom, or dissipating earned wealth.
Getting back to the cartoon, it’s hard to express individuality while making marks with a number 2 pencil between parallel lines. No comment section in a standardized test. That’s where the individuality comes in.
The main thing that bothers me about standardized testing is that the bulk of what is tested is done so with Multiple choice items. Life for the most part is not a multiple choice exam. Its often an open response or constructed response exam.
Rote repetition, night, is how you learned basic math(times tables ),ABC’s(go ahead, sing that song I bet you still can )or cursive writing !
The prob. as I see it thru old eyes is promoting kids when they are no where near being proficient at any grade level! Screw their "feelings " and stop enabling kids who do not comprehen !
I am well educated; by some folk’s standards, somewhat over educated. I don’t care what they think or say because my education contributed greatly to my success. However, one thing is certain….all I ever really needed to know, I learned in Kindergarden!
“Standardized tests are the worst means of educating,”.A standardized test is not a means of educating. It is a possible means of determing educating happened or didn’t happen.
“Now if private schools had to take on everyone they wouldn’t be so good.”/Within every socioeconomic subgroup, progress either was made or was not made.For each individual, progress was made or was not made. How much progress given the individual should be measurable.If the test doesn’t test that, the test is invalid.Some are so mentally retarded, that expecting progress is idiotic.We spend millions of dollars on children who are mental black holes, unable to think or even move. We do it rather than admit there is no hope for them.We spend billions of dollars on people who have decided they will refuse to learn. Further, in the process, we hold back the education of children who WANTED to learn.A good test would show this fact.If this fact remains hidden, we will continue to do the same thing expecting different results.
Excuse me, but I must interrupt this lively debate of teacher’s assessments of standardized tests. I consider it worthy of note that the sign is there for the STUDENTS!! Do you see a single adult in this strip?
LeoAutodidact about 10 years ago
Appropriate for an Ant-Hive.
Individuality? What’s that?
Ink blot Premium Member about 10 years ago
Standardized tests are used to measure the performance of schools, and teachers — not individual teachers. They serve as a benchmark, so that marks given by one teacher can be compared to those given by other teachers. Without standardized tests, we (parents, students) have no way of knowing whether the teacher is actually teaching — rather than just passing out high marks to keep everyone contented.-Most of the negative things you hear about standardized tests come from the teacher’s unions. Strange how teachers want you to believe that they can measure what student’s learn — but, they also want us to believe that no one can measure teachers’ performance. (BTW, I was a certified teacher before retirement.)
RobinHood2013 about 10 years ago
No individuality…?
Sounds a lot like Ingsoc and Big Brother, where individuality would be tantamount to thoughtcrime, or “crimethink.”
Observer fo Irony about 10 years ago
This comments sound like ants talking; please drone on but make them shorter so you have to enter more comments.
b.m.razzilla about 10 years ago
Does this mean that Johnny has the day off??? He has more personality than anyone else in that skool…
J Short about 10 years ago
Cue Pink Floyd.
DragonflyLover about 10 years ago
My uncle is a retired teacher, now 93. He was so brilliant, he was being hired as a substitute teacher while still in high school! He went on to be superintendent of schools, and under curriculum he set forth, I was reading Poe and Shakespeare in elementary school and middle school. By grade 7, I’d read to ‘Kill A Mockingbird’, a book kids now read only in the 11th or 12th grade here. Todays standards have declined far too much, mostly due to politicians input, I feel.
flagmichael about 10 years ago
@ J. Short: indeed! Hey, teacher, leave those kids alone! We oldsters remember Jethro Tull, too: “We will be geared to the average rather than the exceptional.”
jbmlaw01 about 10 years ago
We will “lose ground” in anything controlled by the government, unless the subject activity primarily involves killing people, constraining freedom, or dissipating earned wealth.
cubswin2016 about 10 years ago
Freedom is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.
tahoeh2o about 10 years ago
Remember, you are unique, just like everybody else…
jtviper7 about 10 years ago
Today’s kids are allowed to use calculators,,, without them they can’t do any Math.
Charlie Fogwhistle about 10 years ago
Getting back to the cartoon, it’s hard to express individuality while making marks with a number 2 pencil between parallel lines. No comment section in a standardized test. That’s where the individuality comes in.
whiteaj about 10 years ago
Get rid of K-12 tenure. Institute the Wisconsin reforms.
ColonelClaus about 10 years ago
The main thing that bothers me about standardized testing is that the bulk of what is tested is done so with Multiple choice items. Life for the most part is not a multiple choice exam. Its often an open response or constructed response exam.
What? Me worried ? about 10 years ago
Rote repetition, night, is how you learned basic math(times tables ),ABC’s(go ahead, sing that song I bet you still can )or cursive writing !
The prob. as I see it thru old eyes is promoting kids when they are no where near being proficient at any grade level! Screw their "feelings " and stop enabling kids who do not comprehen !
neverenoughgold about 10 years ago
I am well educated; by some folk’s standards, somewhat over educated. I don’t care what they think or say because my education contributed greatly to my success. However, one thing is certain….all I ever really needed to know, I learned in Kindergarden!
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace about 10 years ago
“Standardized tests are the worst means of educating,”.A standardized test is not a means of educating. It is a possible means of determing educating happened or didn’t happen.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace about 10 years ago
“Now if private schools had to take on everyone they wouldn’t be so good.”/Within every socioeconomic subgroup, progress either was made or was not made.For each individual, progress was made or was not made. How much progress given the individual should be measurable.If the test doesn’t test that, the test is invalid.Some are so mentally retarded, that expecting progress is idiotic.We spend millions of dollars on children who are mental black holes, unable to think or even move. We do it rather than admit there is no hope for them.We spend billions of dollars on people who have decided they will refuse to learn. Further, in the process, we hold back the education of children who WANTED to learn.A good test would show this fact.If this fact remains hidden, we will continue to do the same thing expecting different results.
mgrossberg about 10 years ago
Excuse me, but I must interrupt this lively debate of teacher’s assessments of standardized tests. I consider it worthy of note that the sign is there for the STUDENTS!! Do you see a single adult in this strip?