LETTER: Tests and poverty are main correlation, so why does Illinois need more tests?
October 2, 2010 Substance: I recently heard on WBBM radio that Illinois is now is going to give three standardized tests to students a year in order to evaluate teachers. They may be unaware that it has already been established that there is a direct correlation between socio-economic conditions and educational achievement. Because of this, some teachers in affluent areas or who happen to be assigned the affluent students in a particular school get an easy ride. Teachers in poor neighborhoods or assigned disadvantaged students get the challenge of a lifetime. Just think what all that boondoggle educational testing money and associated administrative costs and testing corporation profits could do if spent on actual teacher improvement courses, salaries, and equipment, or in increasing the amount of real jobs for the parents and parent-education programs in those poor neighborhoods. Money better spent could help alleviate the affects of harsh socio-economic realities in the lives of these citizens.
Sincerely,
Mark L. Madsen, educator, M.A.
Comments:
By: Sad Reality
Reality Check
It is evident that the Education System is heading towards corporate interest by supporting rich businessmen,test related companies, and corrupt politicians. In doing so these interest groups are promoting Charters and trying to get rid of expensive teachers and unions. It really does not matter if the children suffer because the only thing that matter to these people are $$$$$$$.
By: c feeney
4% raise has yours taken place ??
just a little survey to see if all have received the 4 % raise please respond !!!
By: chgotchr
tests to evaluate teachers, that's funny
You know, I could swear that tests were to evaluate - you know - students. So now tests are to evaluate teachers which means that by the third test (s.e.s aside) when the test is really, really important to a teacher's evaluation, the student is really, really tired of taking tests. I wonder what will happen. . . hmmmm.
Testing will end when the last tenured teacher is replaced by a Teach for America kid because testing and evaluation won't matter to a kid who is teaching for a couple of years before he or she go off to med school.