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CSAP fails to convey worth to students

Sunday, August 19 at 12:00 AM

This Speakout has not been edited.

By Bruce C. Hanson

As a retired teacher, who will be a teacher still until I breathe my last breath, I looked with some sadness at the report in the Rocky about CSAP scores. My sadness comes because of the misdirected values we have placed on this test.

Before explaining that comment, let me say that keeping track of what is happening in schools is important. I am definitely not advocating that we never test, or that schools should be free to do whatever they want without some checks and balances. My sadness comes as a result of the message that we have placed on CSAP results.

In years past, testing was just one more tool that helped in the understanding of a student’s growth. There were students who were good readers, good mathematicians, good artists, good musicians, and good athletes. They were not weighted in value. If you were not so good at one, but could make up for it in another, then all was well.

Today, students often find their value as human beings based on their performance on this test. If they are unsuccessful, it doesn’t just say to them that they are poor at writing, it says they are not valuable as human beings, that worth in this world is based on measurable qualities that are best ferreted out through a test like CSAP.

When the current results show that students are beginning to flatten out, it tells me that students have begun to be fatalistic. If for 2 or 3 years in a row, they have failed to perform at an acceptable level, then they must be deficient as human beings.

Once a student has arrived at that conclusion, then the test represents their own failings as people. The conclusion becomes one of why should I try, I am just not very good. Once a student has begun to feel worthless and without merit, then he/she becomes a sitting duck for all the things that lead to what we see too much of today: gang violence, drug involvement, suicide, an overall decline in the quality of life.

Somehow, we must find away to watchdog what we do in our schools without conveying these kinds of messages. The worth of a person is not ultimately based on test scores but on what kind of person you are in relating to the world around you. Some of our best citizens may have once been mediocre students test-wise.

Children need to know that they are worthy regardless of test scores, and sadly, CSAP does not convey that message.

Bruce C. Hanson is a resident of Westminster.

READER COMMENTS

Correct... we should let CSAP die.... Why that might show the incompetency of the teachers and parents of these children and we cannot have that. We just need more money... yeah, thats it.... more money with no accountability. That will save the day.

Why should teachers and administrators be held accountable. You are not held accountable in your job, why should they??? oh wait, you are held accountable? Oh well, then, they should not be because they are government employees and they know what's best for our kids.... They should be paid $1 million a year. It's only fair... and don't look over our shoulders...

You see, It's not what the student knows and can do that is important. It is that they are in touch with their feelings. They must be coddled and snuggled against the world, so they can grow up to be functioning illiterates.... Hey, Walgreens and Zippy Mart need staff to, ya know.

Posted by Dravur on August 24, 2007 07:30 PM

Father OMalley, I taught preschool for 13 years. I taught everyone of my student how to read before going into kindergarten. they were often at 1st grade level and beyond.

I went to the kindergarten teachers, ( this was a long time ago) and asked then what they want a student to know before walking into kindergarten. I often taught beyond what the wanted.

Know that I have my own children I taught them to read before kindergarten. I taught them way above and beyond what was needed. They learned quick and went into kindergarten ,starting their career in school on the right track.Everything went well for my oldest. Her teacher saw she was reading way ahead and gave her books every night to keep her ahead.

My youngest is bright and was reading late 1st grade early 2nd grade level. Her kindergarten teacher refused to give her anything harder and told me it was abusive to let my child read above kindergarten level!

The rest of the story is to long to tell. Let's just say she retaliated against my daughter and I,and tormented my daughter the rest of the year. I had her tested in kindergarten after complaining to the school board.She tested an entire school year ahead of her peers.

Here is what I'm fighting now. My daughter is now going into 2nd grade reading and comprehending at a 5th grade level is 100% proficient in math and has passed the 2nd grade curriculum.Her 2nd grade teacher told me if she was past her math program, ( which she is) I would have to teach her at home. Her teacher said she is only teaching the book.

I requested that my daughter be skipped to 3rd grade.They sent me a denial letter and their reason for denying my request was, Even though your daughter is past the 2nd grade curriculum,if we skipped her to 3rd grade she would only be starting 3rd grade in the middle of 3rd grade academically.

I think this school has twisted the NCLB act.
Their motto is No Child Left Behind= who cares how far they are behind pass them on.

ECKB=Every Child Kept Behind=Keep the ones that are ahead behind.

I am now still fighting to get her into 3rd grade where she will thrive not in 2nd where she will sit and languish all year.

I am weary fighting this school every year to educate her on her level and not dumbing her down.I think they are trying to wear me down. They do a good job at it,but I will not give up.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on August 21, 2007 08:20 AM

I've taught slow readers in grade 6 for 4 years. They come to my group reading at 3rd grade, six weeks later, two nights a week, they leave reading at 6th grade level.
My friend has done the same in math. We often compete to see which one does better.

All this talk about "self-worth" being harmed by low test scores is bunk. That student has low self esteem to begin with....

Nothing helps self esteem like success.

Teachers get 31 days off a year for "training" and other "special days", then the pundits call for longer days and longer school years.

In 3 months off every year, they can't quite get enough time to continue their training...??? What's that all about?

Discipline, and relying on proven ways to teach and drop all of the malarky about the "unfairness" of current testing. How many children are autistic anyway....

For over 40 years, I've seen the liberal mindset convince an inattentive public that the exception to a rule actually swallows the rule..like "One man being put to death by mistake is enough reason to ban the death penalty.." It's all garbage and the garbage is showing in our children's educational expertise....

God, I wish they would teach the laws of finance and investment as much as the teach about Martin Luther King Jr...

My 9 year old has had Martin Luther King instruction for 3 straight years since kindergarden. I asked her if she knew what Thomas Jefferson did, or John Adams. Nothing, nada, so it's off to home schooling her like I did her two older sisters and older brother.... It's the only safe way to do it...
Oh by the way, all three of the older ones have graduated from college with honors...

Just teach damn it! Just teach and quit giving me these excuses...God, I"m tired of the whining....

May God Bless,
Father O'Malley

Posted by Father OMalley on August 20, 2007 01:13 PM

My daughter is opting out. A friend of hers who is autistic and unable to read, write, and do math is still "required" to take the test without help from his aide. CSAP does not measure this autistic child's incredible knowledge of history. Also, the non-English speaking kids are also "required" to take the test. CSAP should be abandoned and left to die.

Posted by MER on August 19, 2007 03:47 PM

How can CSAP really be worthwhile when even an autistic child is unable to read, write, and do math but yet is still required to take the test? Or what about the non-Englishing speaking kids? My daughter is opting out.

Posted by MER on August 19, 2007 03:40 PM

Testing students over and over does not give a correct picture of their strengths and weaknesses. Some kids are great at taking tests but can't perform well in a social class setting. Some kids are just the opposite.

I really don't know what the answer is. How do we effectively find out where a student is in his or her grade level.

Tests also to do not reflect their true strenghts and weaknesses.When CSAP time comes the schools start reminding kids everyday at least 3 weeks before the test how important it is .This is why you need to be in school on these days. They hand out treats on tests days. They let them chew gum.They start stressing the kids out at least 3 weeks before the test. So by the time the kid sits down with a nice new #2 pencil with his booklet and answer sheet they are stressed.Why do we put our kids under such pressure for weeks on end?

Csap's are for testing to see how well teachers are doing ,not the children.

Posted by Can I get an AMEN! on August 19, 2007 12:10 PM

Mr. Hanson
Patrick is a great example of why we need to test all students on their knowlege and mastery of the basics. Without those no one can move forward in knowledge or education. Grades are not given by a system, but based on the individual teacher. It is quite possible for a student to get a good grade in English without knowing or using proper grammar or spelling. CSAP is too long because it must test many areas.
You speak of pressure on the students caused by the testing. If we ground the students in the basics during their first years they will not fail unless they are convinced in advance that failure is their destiny because of the test itself. Many teachers downplay or make outright attacks on CSAP in the classroom. With that kind of attitude from the educator, how much effort will students put into a test they have been told is wrong for them? Many parents have been convinced to keep students home and to skip the test. We can improve all the schools by going to a core curriculum of basic English, basic writing, basic literature, basic history, basic computational skills and basic political science, which some call social studies.
As long as the education establishment finds excuses to demean the test, there will be students like Patrick who are unaware of the gaps in their education. Imagine what the response would be if the errors in his post were repeated in an application letter to the college of his choice. Patrick might be blaming his grades when he should blame himself for not working harder or his teachers for skipping those dull basics. Unfortunately, too many will not understand the tests because they have had sub-standard instruction. Let the teachers teach like the ones at my grand daughter's school. She is developmentally disabled due to severe neglect while she was with her mother. By the time she is old enough to take CSAP she will consider the test just another measuring tool. Hopefully the others in her class will have that attitude as well. It is how her teachers refer to the test.

Posted by momma y on August 19, 2007 05:19 AM

Patrick
Colleges look at many things but one area they are very concerned about is your ability to communicate in writing and to handle the basics of mathematics, history and literature.

Your grades should reflect your level of mastery in all areas. Since many teachers practice grade inflation, standardized tests will determine your achievements in learning.

Your post here contained spelling, grammar and logical errors. I'll overlook the spelling as finger slips can happen to anyone but to not know the difference between you're and your when you state that you do well in English tells me that perhaps you are being graded fairly. More effort in academics and less in non academics. Orchestra and leadership, whatever that entails, are probably good courses but you need to show effort and accomplishment in the basics of reading and writing, literature, computation and the basics of the sciences that are taught to those not intending to continue in the technical fields in life or in college.
Stop complaining and start working harder.

Posted by momma y on August 19, 2007 05:01 AM

As I Colorado student, I really do feel your correct in your statement Mr. Hanson. However, may I expand your argument to include the pressure of grades as well?

How I see it, my life isn't so determined by tests, as they are by my grades. These days, collages look more to your grades than the SAT or ACT. I'm a student who, in my opinion, doesn't excelle in certian classes (math and science), while I do very well in classes such as english, orchestra, or leadership. And while I have strengths in those subjects, my failures in the others brings down my ultimate level of proficency (reflected in my GPA). This results in the same kind of stresses you mentioned with CSAP scores.

So I agree 100% with you, I just think all aspects of education should be treated in the way you suggest.

Posted by Patrick on August 19, 2007 12:39 AM