state tests today at school and my dd is sick-UPDATE #65

[alabamagirl]

Walk a mile in a teacher's shoes....I'd be interested to know if you would feel the same way.

While I agree that parents (as well as teachers) should be complaining to those State Reps about the adsurdity of being evaluted on these tests (especially in your case), that doesn't change the fact that my (speaking generally as a parent) problem is still with the individual teacher's, or school's way of pressuring their students, and that should be addressed at the source, the teacher and/or the school itself. The teacher has a choice, they don't have to put this kind of pressure on the students, I would assume a teacher would be capable of coming up with creative ways to get through to their students, to prepare and motivate them for the tests without having to resort to bribery, and punishment.
Pressuring them, blaming the State requirements and telling the parents its not their fault, its the State's, complain to them, is really just taking the easy way out IMO. If you can't handle the pressure put on you, without projecting it to children, or if you rely on the parents complaining on your behalf because you do choose to put that pressure on them, you shouldn't be in a teaching position. (ETA, not speaking about you, but teachers like in the OP, or teachers like the one the pp said is going to punish the kids if they don't do well)

 

[Gatorina]

I came across this forum while Googling sick policies for state standardized testing and thought I'd join in.

My DD9, who woke up at 3 am with fever and vomiting, has spent this entire school year 'cramming' for the iLEAP tests. We live in Louisiana which has notoriously poor schools and in our parish, many schools are slated to be closed or absorbed into other schools due to underperformance.

Rather than just being a sick little kid and trying to rest, she is in hysterics because she is afraid her teacher will be mad she isn't there. All they have heard for weeks is how important these tests are and how essential it is that they be there and on time. DD is a straight-A Honor Roll, Principal's List student who is also in the Gateway (talented and gifted) program. She is a great test-taker and scored 99th percentile on the practice tests.

But since just before spring break (two weeks ago) she has been anxious and obsessed with iLEAP testing. I want her to take her schoolwork seriously and always give her very best, but why should third-grade children be STRESSED over a test that, ultimately is a measure of the effectiveness of the educational system and not the intelligence of the children being tested?

Further, why all the scramble and panic once these kids hit third grade? Wouldn't it make more sense to take a preparatory approach and begin teaching our children in K and 1st instead of watching Tom and Jerry cartoons in class and bringing home 'busy work' coloring pages for homework? My daughter went from almost no homework or challenging classwork to an average of 2 hours a night and a backpack that is so loaded with books her neck muscles are becoming strained.

BTW, my DD is legitimately ill today, although it may seem I am protesting the standardized testing racket. And I am also a teacher, although I teach preschool at a private school, so I 'get' the pressure the schools and teachers are under. I just think there has to be a better way to assess the effectiveness of a system.