More Testing than Teaching?
POSTED: Monday, April 11, 2011 - 6:10pm
UPDATED: Monday, April 25, 2011 - 9:48pm
Lucy Clarke from the El Paso Federation of Teachers says at least 50 of the 179 school year days are spent on standardized testing.
"That is the problem with TAKS or any state test it doesn't matter what state you're in. Being the single measure of whether a school or school district is successful or not. There have to be other measures used," Clarke said.
Clarke says teachers are feeling the pressure to ensure their students pass the state test, which forces them to sacrifice a more well-rounded education.
"The teachers are concerned that the students are not getting the depth of knowledge that they need to be truly successful in higher education," Clarke said.
Clarke says it's money that puts schools under pressure to do well on state tests.
"Funding has a great deal to do with the change in what a teacher can teach and how in depth they can go into a particular area," Clarke said.
Even if students are doing well on standardized tests, Clarke says she's afraid they're losing out.
The EPISD didn't answer our questions but they did send us a comment this afternoon stating that superintendents across the state are requesting that legislators delay the implementation of a new end-of-course exam.
Although administration and teachers are opposed to more testing it still remains a possibility.