Countdown to the End: Day 28

Agriculture Science: dissecting a pig's stomach

Iowa Assessments started today. It used to be called ITEDs, Iowa Test of Educational Development. Today was just the start. All week the schedule will be shortened and students will take them first thing in the morning. Administrators and teachers are under a lot of pressure for students to do well. Teachers in our district have had professional development for these tests, like what we can and can’t say while giving students instructions. We can only say what’s in the book, nothing more-nothing less. I agree that it develops continuity across the state. Each department has also looked through the testing booklets to make sure that every teacher is covering necessary concepts with their students. As an elective area I'm told to teach math, science, and reading daily in all my classes. Math and science are pretty easy to incorporate, but reading is a little more difficult. We have had countless professional developments devoted to finding ways to incorporate these subjects into our curriculum. We have also spent time looking at each individual students scores to analyze the data. Students have seen their scores, and they have been asked to set goals. We have had countless talks with students about how important these tests are. So what do these test scores mean for a school district? I have had countless talks with students today about what will happen. This is a synopsis of the conversations:

These tests evaluate you as a student, and decide what classes you should be taking. If you don’t meet a certain goal, you will be ineligible for PSEO classes in high school (post secondary classes).

This is also how our school is evaluated. If the state of Iowa sees that our school isn’t making progress or many of our student’s aren’t meeting the proficient mark there are funding consequences.

Most times after I say these things students react pretty negatively, like this school sucks. I don’t think it’s the school. I feel that the evaluation system is pretty flawed. I realize the bar needs to be set high for all schools, but in Iowa the schools that do well are schools that are predominately white with a low special education population with no economic issues. That is not America, and how boring would that be anyway? This subject has been widely debated. After trying to explain that this system doesn't evaluate schools and students accurately, one student said it best when he said I don’t test well, but I can weld like nobodies business. Having this kid in class I can attest to his welding skill; he was right.

Standardized tests: equal is not fair. My sweet special education student is expected to know algebra on a the standardized test, but he can only comprehend basic math. Other special education students are not in grade level classes, so how are they expected to know grade level material on the standardized tests. My extremely intelligent Mexican student that is learning English gets extra help in class, but not on a standardized test. My student that is wearing the same clothes as yesterday, hasn’t showered because he doesn’t live at home, and didn’t get breakfast this morning is expected to score as high as a student with all the privileges in the world.

The world will always need farmers. 

Everyone needs welders in the world. 

Everyone needs electricians in the world. 

I know I made a good choice because I will be able to teach my own children that equal is not fair. By the time that students are high school age the equal is not fair concept is lost on them.