tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post3973769201470609596..comments2024-03-24T11:39:28.574-04:00Comments on NYC Public School Parents: Backed By 100+ Police Officers, Mayor Forces South Williamsburg VotePatrick Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10631038958645725010noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2586988941850907367.post-80103807061897623112012-03-09T12:31:09.599-05:002012-03-09T12:31:09.599-05:00Parents, you are being lied to about the importanc...Parents, you are being lied to about the importance of tests scores in your child’s public schools. It is not the teachers who are lying, they are forced to use the tests by school leaders, particularly at the state and federal levels. The truth is, the best of these tests do not predict how children will do in college or in life. They do not even predict very well how they will do in classes a couple of years from now. They are best at predicting how they will do on other useless tests in the future. Their real purpose is to enrich testing companies like Pearson, which not only make money from the tests, but also from remedial materials tied directly to the tests.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Meanwhile, the tests and test prep are stealing valuable time from instruction that really counts. Problem solving, higher level thinking, creative thinking, art, music, PE, and vocational classes have all been diminished by the emphasis on worthless testing in a few select areas of the curriculum. What I don’t understand is why do parents like you stand for this travesty. Your children’s future is being stolen by billionaires and everyone just watches.<br /><br /> <br /><br />If you are looking for a way to stop the corporate takeover of your local schools, join 4300 parents and educators in sending a letter to the President calling for a reduction or elimination of federally mandated testing, restructuring of the Department of Education, and firing the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. http://dumpduncan.orgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com