dissing the education system

Pre-College Issues High School Life
81

<p>Hello everyone on College Confidential.
Chocolate Banana: Teachers already teach to a test: AP classes for an AP exam; Junior year classes for the ACT; Classes in general for the Final exam; Classes in general for a state standardized exam. Everything we do in school is for a test. </p>

<p>About the educational system: What if children are separated by those who want to learn and those who don’t? Those who do not want to learn are doomed for low-paying jobs that only require a high school education (or even lower) anyway, and those who want to learn can get any job they want.</p>

82

<p>CommunityChannel had it all figured out about the educational system.</p>

<p>“I can’t read, and I can’t write but I can dance!”</p>

<p>And that’s the way it ought to be.</p>

83

<p>

</p>

<p>Sorry…They shouldn’t have to teach for a national/state test.</p>

<p>AP classes: it’s understood when you take an AP class what you will be studying for. Plus, if you are that advanced, I’m not too worried at that point.</p>

<p>Junior year classes for the ACT: I never did this. </p>

<p>Classes in general for the Final exam: YES, but if the teacher makes the exam or if the exam isn’t too restrictive/isolated in what they test, the teachers will have flexibility.</p>

<p>Classes in general for a state standardized exam: This is the one that tends to be the problem.</p>

<p>Everything we do in school is for a test: This way of thinking is problematic.</p>

<p>FROM WIKI: Problems with standardized tests</p>

<p>Critics have argued that the focus on standardized testing (all students in a state take the same test under the same conditions) as the means of assessment encourages teachers to teach a narrow subset of skills that will increase test performance rather than focus on deeper understanding that can readily be transferred to similar problems.[30] For example, if the teacher knows that all of the questions on a math test are simple addition equations (e.g., 2+3=5), then the teacher might not invest any class time on the practical applications of addition (e.g., story problems) so that there will be more time for the material which is assessed on the test. This is colloquially referred to as “teaching to the test.”</p>

<p>Moreover, many teachers who practice “teaching to the test” actually misinterpret the educational outcomes the tests are designed to measure. On two state tests (New York State and Michigan) and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) almost two-thirds of eighth graders missed math word problems that required an application of the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the distance between two points.[31] Wiggins and McTighe blamed the low success rate on teachers who correctly anticipated the content of the tests, but incorrectly assumed each test would present rote knowledge/skill items rather than well-constructed, higher-order items.</p>

<p>The practice of giving all students the same test, under the same conditions, has been accused of inherent cultural bias because different cultures may value different skills. It also may conflict with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which states that schools must accommodate disabled students.[32] For example, it is normally acceptable for visually impaired students to be read test material aloud. However, on a NCLB-mandated test, a group of blind students had their scores invalidated (reported as zeros) because the testing protocol did not specifically allow for test readers to speak.[33]</p>

<p>The practice of determining educational quality by testing students has been called into question.[34]</p>

84

<p>

</p>

<p>What about the glue…?</p>

85

<p>The glue will always be a pertinent part of the education system. It is why students and teachers don’t kill each other.</p>

<p>…Usually.</p>

<p>Random’s glitter, however…I don’t do glitter.</p>

86

<p>Hello everyone on College Confidential.
Chocolate Banana: With the Junior year classes for the ACT, I’m not referring tutoring. I’m just stating that when I was in a junior year math class as a freshman, I felt that right after the ACT, kids stopped caring about the class. My math teacher, however, continued teaching as usual because she really loves math, but other math teachers have sort of taken it easy for their students.
Moreover, “teaching to a test” can also cause senioritis, because students are now done with their tests to get into college and to get good grades, so they just stop caring about education.
But I do agree with you that “Everything we do in school is for a test” is a hyperbole and somewhat depressing. Truly, however, much of what we do is only to test our ability.</p>

<p>I must reiterate this: THE NCLB ACT HAS GOT TO GO!!!</p>

87

<p>WHAT? No glitter, Platts? Nooooo…</p>

88

<p>Compromise: you can have macaroni art. </p>

<p>Provided said art is not used to create hearts or smiley faces.</p>

89

<p>^Can it be used to make skulls and elephants?</p>

90

<p>Elephants are acceptable.
The education committee would need to further discuss the use of skulls.</p>

91

<p>I don’t like it. I’m classified as high achieving, yet my school offers no classes for freshmen like me, and the classes I have, even the “accelerated” ones, have the same assignments, and generally cater to the normal achievers. I do not have a problem with people asking questions, however some children in my class ask way to many questions it gets on my nerves. </p>

<p>I also dislike them talking. I enjoy learning and will pay attention, no matter how disinteresting. Some of these children, however, will just talk and talk and talk. </p>

<p>Several of these classes I am mentioning are part of a “Dual Language” program and are offered in Spanish. Needless to say, I am opting out of the program. It gets to be a real hassle. I enjoy most of these children’s companies but I just can no longer stand it.</p>

<p>Referring to “teaching to the test” also bugs me. I enjoy learning concepts, and most of my teachers are great about making sure that each lesson. However, some things must be taught for the test, like vocabulary.</p>

92

<p>The American education system is not inadequate by any means but by no means is it superior either. The American education system needs immense reform. I really wish that the government would find more necessity in spending more on education to improve it. It seems as if education is secondary thing to the United States. I’ll put it bluntly for me, but I live in Florida and our education sucks. I really wish that I could have received a better education.</p>

93

<p>

I second that.</p>

94

<p>I think we all second that. No matter where we might live. Truth is, education has taken a backseat when it should be the forefront of issues. I mean, after all, children need it to become future leaders right? :stuck_out_tongue: (shedding cheese)</p>

95

<p>^It’s not only to become future leaders…</p>

96

<p>There’s nothing wrong with standardized testing. The problem is that our tests are junk.</p>

<p>Our whole problem is the idea that we must make tests that everyone can pass. That isn’t the point of a test. NCLB mandates testing programs for federal funding. State administrators are not stupid. They know that their students are, by and large, a bunch of slacking losers who will fail any remotely rigorous test. So, they buy low-level tests that don’t require any critical thinking or really much in the way of sentience.</p>

<p>Look, I don’t like my high school curriculum. Most classes are boring and easy. But changing the schools will do nothing unless the average quality of student is improved.</p>

97

<p>@ChocolateBanana, I do realize that it’s not only to become future leaders. :slight_smile: Just saying, education should come first (or at least close to first)</p>

<p>Have you realized how badly those state assessments are written? Half the time they have incorrect answers!</p>

98

<p>AHHHH! Standardized testing is what drove my family to pull me out of public school. EVERYTHING revolved around it. The curriculum changed so we passed the test. We started prepping on the 3rd day of school. And the pathetic part? The tests are SUPER easy. The education system in this country is…well…failing.</p>

99

<p>I’m actually quite excited for the state Algebra II test knowing I’ll have to do very little to get a 98.</p>

100

<p>yeahhhh. Easy peasy. Once on a 5th grade State test, one of the options for the answer was “tree”. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.</p>