Can’t a teacher tell us more about a student than a test?
Ed Week is reporting that Secretary of Education Arne Duncan intends to devote a chunk of the Race to the Top billions to improving testing. The magazine reports that experts hope the $350 million will lead to tests that better measure critical-thinking skills, which critics say are not measured by the fill-in-the-bubble tests.
One of the most interesting aspects of the debate is how to best assess critical thinking and whether conventional testing schedules and times are up to the challenge.
As the story notes: “I think one thing that’s got to give is the idea of a short test,” said Mr. Bennett of the Educational Testing Service. “You can’t cover a domain broadly, or enough of a domain deeply, if you give a short test, and you can’t give back information that’s going to be valuable to the teacher or student in terms of what to do.” It might be possible to administer assessments in parts over the course of the year and to aggregate the results, rather than simply create longer tests, he suggested. Another possible solution, experts say, would be to move to a system that samples student performance, rather than giving every student the same test form. Each student would take only a part of the exam, with results aggregated at a higher level.
So, here’s my question: If student performance is the ideal way to measure critical thinking, why can’t teachers become the judges rather than new tests since teachers witness and assess student performance on a daily basis?
I think that there are the occasional surprises, the kids who compensate to hide a reading disability. But, I have to believe that most teachers could tell which students in their classes had critical thinking skills and which did not.
Can’t they?
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77 comments Add your comment
Mac
August 7th, 2009
10:23 am
YES!!!!
Ernest
August 7th, 2009
10:39 am
The short answer to your question is yes. I do like the idea of having multiple types of measures for determining student performance. I would give the teacher’s evaluation greater weight however good information can come from a standardized test.
This was an interesting article and the comments add more. One commenter mentioned that Kentucky used ’sampling’ (also called Matrixed testing) since 1992 and it has proven to be a failure. This clearly demonstrates that a concerted effort should be used to find ‘best practices’ that have been implemented that have provided desirable results and outcomes for the students. Extensive research should be done to ensure we are not going down a path that other states may have tried.
Again, it is not a ‘one size fits all’ scenario we need. Multiple strategies are needed so that teachers can pick and choose what works best for their situation.
Seen it all
August 7th, 2009
10:53 am
The system really doesn’t care about teacher’s opinions. The trend is to move toward standardization across the classes, schools, and school systems. The reason for all the testing is not really to gauge student acquisition of knowledge and skills. The real reason is to force all teachers to “teach” the same way. Think about the phrase “teaching to the test”. Think about the mania administrators and teachers have in GA regarding the CRCT. Everything revolves around the CRCT. It is like this in other states as well (Fla, Texas, Calif, etc.).
When most educators talk about students now, about the only thing that comes out their mouths is “CRCT”. Classroom performance comes next. It is secondary to the CRCT. So, of course I would love to see multiple ways to gauge student achievement and yes, a teacher can tell us more about a student than one test. But sadly, for some people it’s not about the kids.
Elaine
August 7th, 2009
11:20 am
Yes. But not as well as they could if we continue to raise pupil/teacher ratios.
And instead of laying off teachers, cutting their pay, and/or implementing furloughs, why not quit spending so much of our ed money on testing and let the teachers do their jobs? I’d like to know how much the state would save by doing away with the 1st OR 2nd grade CRCT. Not both, just one of them.
Turd Ferguson
August 7th, 2009
12:47 pm
NO…teachers are too caught up in behaving like a group of fish or hens cackling all the live long day. Too busy being gossips, frauds and just plain idiots with a “badge”. They are too busy attempting to brainwash kids with the latest in political correctness to do anything worth while.
Basically the majority of teachers have less common sense than the children with which they are supposedly teaching.
Harper's Mama
August 7th, 2009
1:10 pm
Test scores definitely have their place in the school system and in the classroom. I think what happens is that teachers (not all) don’t disaggregate the data and look at what the students are lacking. Some just look at the score and say, “Okay, they all passed,” iinstead of, “They all passed, but every one of them missed the questions that addressed this standard.” Teachers come and go, but standards will be here for a while. Let’s look at the data and see where they struggle.
Dragonlady
August 7th, 2009
1:25 pm
Harper’s Mama,
I wish I could examine the questions the kids missed which addressed certain standards, but I have not been given that information. I can’t see the test; I am not even supposed to ask the students what was on the test.
Are other teachers in other systems given this type of information?
Earl of Ft. Liquordale
August 7th, 2009
1:48 pm
Hey guys, I see that Dr. John Trotter has not been off this here blog since early Tuesday. The Mrs. and I heard from Rev. Eddie in DeKalb that DeKalb Superintendent Crawford Lewis has been catching heck from a rowled up group of citizens in DeKalb. Abe and Wilma have satellite, and they get about 350 channels, including all of the Atlanta network news stations. They were telling the Mrs. and me about the continuing concerns in DeKalb County about the systematic cheating and bullying. I hear that Crawford Lewis and his Administration is trying to ban Dr. Trotter. They must be very scared of Dr. Trotter and what he knows and what he will do. I got news for them…banning doesn’t work against Dr. Trotter. He’s just having fun messing with Crawford Lewis. The truth be known is that Trotter is right in the midst of the parents and citizens of Dekalb, strategyzing about taking out the DeKalb “Do Nothing” School Board and getting rid of Lewis as superintendent. Now, this is going to be fun watching this! I understand that MACE was picketing the DeKalb School Board meeting Monday night, and Dr. Trotter was punking out the Po Po who parked in a DeKalb School System Van right beside the MACE picketers, reporting back to “headquarters” and apprently trying to intimidate the MACE picketers. “All Nine Must Resign!” Now that’s a good one! The Mrs. and I are discussing getting us one of those suped-up satellite things so that we can keep up with what’s going on up there. Ms. Maureen, you already have a fan club here at the condo in Ft. Liquordale, especially among Abe & Wilma, Eli & Hilda, and the Mrs. & me. You’re doing a good job, girl. One little piece of advice from ole Earl…slow down on the topics. We’re getting old down here and can’t quite keep up with the rapidity of your topics! Whew…we’re tired. Well, off to the mandatory shuffle-boarding. Your friend, Earl. P.S. The Mrs. and I both taught 31 years in Clayton County, and we can assure you that standardized tests can be helpful to a degree in understanding a child’s academic prowess (if the kid even tries on the test), but the teacher’s understanding of a student (especially in the early grades when the teacher keeps the same kids all day) is superior to a paper and pencil test.
Earl of Ft. Liquordale
August 7th, 2009
1:51 pm
Hey guys, I see that Dr. John Trotter has not been off this here blog since early Tuesday. The Mrs. and I heard from Rev. Eddie in DeKalb that DeKalb Superintendent Crawford Lewis has been catching heck from a rowled up group of citizens in DeKalb. Abe and Wilma have satellite, and they get about 350 channels, including all of the Atlanta network news stations. They were telling the Mrs. and me about the continuing concerns in DeKalb County about the systematic cheating and bullying. I hear that Crawford Lewis and his Administration are trying to ban Dr. Trotter. They must be very scared of Dr. Trotter and what he knows and what he will do. I got news for them…banning doesn’t work against Dr. Trotter. He’s just having fun messing with Crawford Lewis. The truth be known is that Trotter is right in the midst of the parents and citizens of Dekalb, strategyzing about taking out the DeKalb “Do Nothing” School Board and getting rid of Lewis as superintendent. Now, this is going to be fun watching this! I understand that MACE was picketing the DeKalb School Board meeting Monday night, and Dr. Trotter was punking out the Po Po who parked in a DeKalb School System Van right beside the MACE picketers, reporting back to “headquarters” and apprently trying to intimidate the MACE picketers. “All Nine Must Resign!” Now that’s a good one! The Mrs. and I are discussing getting us one of those suped-up satellite things so that we can keep up with what’s going on up there. Ms. Maureen, you already have a fan club here at the condo in Ft. Liquordale, especially among Abe & Wilma, Eli & Hilda, and the Mrs. & me. You’re doing a good job, girl. One little piece of advice from ole Earl…slow down on the topics. We’re getting old down here and can’t quite keep up with the rapidity of your topics! Whew…we’re tired. Well, off to the mandatory shuffle-boarding. Your friend, Earl. P.S. The Mrs. and I both taught 31 years in Clayton County, and we can assure you that standardized tests can be helpful to a degree in understanding a child’s academic prowess (if the kid even tries on the test), but the teacher’s understanding of a student (especially in the early grades when the teacher keeps the same kids all day) is superior to a paper and pencil test.
Earl of Ft. Liquordale
August 7th, 2009
1:54 pm
jim d, you are right. This blog thing has eaten up two of my postings in a row, but I guarantee that this little complaint will be published. Hey, I’m Earl, and I haven’t been on here in months. So, have some mercy on me, ya heah?
Reality 2
August 7th, 2009
2:33 pm
Some teachers can but not all of them, nor all the time. Before we can even think about “measuring” critical thinking, we must first make sure what we mean by “critical thinking.” It involves the knowledge of subject matters, and not all teachers have deep enough knowledge to make a sound judgment on critical thinking in all the courses they teach. This is particularly a problem for elementary teachers who have to teach every subject, but even for secondary teachers whose understanding of the subject is limited/superficial.
Where are Earl's statements
August 7th, 2009
2:35 pm
This blog ain’t working. Where are Earl’s statements? Is anyone minding the store?
Harper's Mama
August 7th, 2009
3:29 pm
Dragonlady,
In Fulton County, we have a data base that allows us to look not only at individual answers to questions, but also whole class answers. The questions, themselves, are not posted, but the standards addressed in each question are. If there is a standard where 30% or more of my students do not answer appropriately, then we go back and address it again.
What’s the point of testing them if we can’t look and see what they need?
jim d
August 7th, 2009
3:54 pm
Allow me to play devils advocate on this one.
How could we expect teachers who have not demonstrated any critical thinking skills (thru bogus testing methods) to effectively recognize those skills in students?
Do you see the delima?
mdowney
August 7th, 2009
4:08 pm
Earl of the Fort, Found your comments and restored them. Anyone who can play shuffleboard in this heat can handle two or three topics a day. Maureen
Dragonlady
August 7th, 2009
4:59 pm
Harper’s mama,
Exactly. I wish my administrators saw it your way.
old teach
August 7th, 2009
6:05 pm
I am definitely an “OldTeach” . In order to find out if my students had actually mastered the material I had taught, I felt it was necessary to have what, in my day, were called “ESSAY QUESTIONS” along with fill in the blanks and a few multiple choice. By the middle of the year, having looked at these kinds of evaluations plus the classroom participation of my students, I think I could tell you about the critical thinking skills of each student as well as their general abilities to “think through” whatever was presented. IMO, the “scantron” began the demise of CRITICAL THINKING ” in our schools. It is quite a chore to grade ESSAY Questions and fill in the blanks, and teachers have become lazy about doing it. Nevertheless, IMO , it is the only way to accurately evaluate.
Reality 2
August 7th, 2009
6:39 pm
Multiple choice questions CAN assess students thinking – but writing good multiple choice questions is VERY difficult.
Fill in the blanks or essay questions don’t necessarily assess students’ critical thinking. It all depends on how the questions are asked and what teachers will accept as appropriate answers. That means it depends quite a bit on teachers’ understanding of critical thinking. So, if teachers don’t understand critical thinking, I can’t see how they can write an assessment item that will assess their students’ critical thinking.
Teacher2highschoolkids
August 7th, 2009
8:03 pm
To Jim d- please learn to spell before you start criticizing others.
ScienceTeacher671
August 7th, 2009
8:28 pm
Harper’s mama – our system may have such a database for the EOCTs and GHSGT, but if so, it hasn’t been shared with the high school teachers.
Cere
August 7th, 2009
8:45 pm
“the “scantron” began the demise of CRITICAL THINKING ”
Truer words were never spoken! Lazy testing methodology — do they even use blue books in college anymore? Or have they all gone to scantrons too? Do teachers lead discussions and encourage students to debate – or do they simply crack open students’ heads and pour in the formula?
Reality 2
August 7th, 2009
10:58 pm
Laziness isn’t about just scantron. So many schools will no longer return the exams to their students so that teachers can re-use the same tests over and over. They simply sacrifice students’ learning for their own laziness.
parent and teacher
August 7th, 2009
11:04 pm
Reality 2 – I use class sets on tests (which are not my only means of assessment, BTW). I do it to save paper – not because I’m lazy. I’ve never reused tests from year to year because I never teach things in exactly the same way. I always go over the test with the kids, and after all absent make-ups have been done, anyone can have a test that wants it.
Please don’t paint with so broad a brush – thanks!
The Mrs. of Ft. Liquordale
August 7th, 2009
11:31 pm
Thanks, Maureen, for salvaging a pleasant evening on our trip to the Pompano Beach Friday Night Aunction. Earl was driving me crazy all day, moping because his posting had not appeared. Right before we left, he saw that you found his posting. He is now happy again. I have tried to keep him off of the blogs, but he’s a political addict — especially of what goes on in the Atlanta area. He hates the shuffle board, but I just have to make him diversify his interests. Only fishing for snook off the Las Olas and 14th Street Bridge with Abe and Eli at night or “sneaking” over to the Bahia Mar near the Beach to peek at the Spring Break Coeds even rival his fondness for the blogs. He’s very fond of you already, especially when you found his latest posting. He kept muttering, “But, I hain’t posted in months…”
Gwinnett Parent
August 8th, 2009
12:16 am
So, here’s my question: If student performance is the ideal way to measure critical thinking, why can’t teachers become the judges rather than new tests since teachers witness and assess student performance on a daily basis?
Maureen,
Teachers are in the best position to judge students’ performance, but, for that to happend we need to have All of the teachers to have level of comptency. We all know that we don’t live in an ideal world.
And hence, the need for standardized tests. If only we had a national standards for each grade level that will give a better understanding of where we are as far as the public education is concerned for the whole of the US.
Under current settings, various states “fudge” the numbers and tests to make themselves look better. Was it last year when CRCT math for some grade level in GA only had 30 or so percent of students passing, and what does the DOE do ? they toss out the whole test results, or did they lower the passing cutoff? I don’t recall exactly what happened, but it was shameful to say the least.
I still remember the case of “Hosuton Miracle” .. The biggest problem with the public education in the US is not the teachers or students, it’s dishonest administrators, both at local school systems and higher levels. Besides, students who have good values instilled in them by their parents do well in schools and their future lives despite the broken systems they get their education from.
If only parents got more involved in their kids’ futures, the world will be a better place.
Enough of this rant, good night now!
jim d
August 8th, 2009
3:18 am
“criticizing others”??
qui je?
quem mim?
кто я?
quién yo?
jim d
August 8th, 2009
3:20 am
Do you know how one can always tell when school starts back?
The spelling cops show up on the blogs!
Jeff
August 8th, 2009
6:53 am
Sorry I haven’t been involved here all, and sorry for the shameless self promotion I’m about to do, but thought y’all might be interested:
The reason I stopped being so active here was because I created my own blog, SWGAPolitics.com, back in January. It started out real slow, but recently it has been picking up more and more steam.
One of the things I do there is track the various 2010 races already, and this weekend I’m interviewing two State Superintendent of Schools candidates. I’m talking to Richard Woods, a GOP challenger to Kathy Cox, at 9am today for a traditional sit-down interview, and I’ll have the audio and transcript posted some time next week.
Tomorrow at 3pm on the blog itself, I’m doing an interview with Brian Westlake, who is running in the Democratic Primary for State School Superintendent, via LiveBlog. This is basically a moderated chat session, and is perfectly open for anyone who wishes to participate.
Like I said, I DO apologize for the shameless self promotion here, but I see at least a few old timers that still know me, and obviously people coming here are interested in education to begin with, and I figured y’all might like to know about it.
ScienceTeacher671
August 8th, 2009
8:23 am
I agree with “Seen it All” that the system doesn’t care, and is trying to standardize instruction so that teachers are all interchangable automatons….thus the ever expanding checklists for how we open the lesson, how we close the lesson, what is in between, and even what is on the classroom walls…when I began teaching many long years ago, the bulletin boards had to be attractive and subject-related…now they even dictate exactly what must be on the walls and boards.
Reality 2
August 8th, 2009
8:35 am
parent and teacher
You may make the test available to your students (only some since you don’t make enough copy — why not just post it on the web?), but it is a fact that many schools (or specific departments) have the policy as a whole to not to return tests. I’m sure there are a bunch of teachers who have own policy. I have yet to hear from them any sound educational reason for such a practice. So, again, it is your colleagues who create this perception/reality. If you don’t like it, then speak up against any teacher/department/school who is doing such stupid act.
Gwinnett Parent
August 8th, 2009
9:45 am
Where is my comment?
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
10:17 am
Mine too? I had high hope that since Ms. Maureen let Earl on this blog that she would also let the Rev. on.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
10:19 am
“high hopes,” not “high hope.” Now, damm_t it! I am tired of making mistakes! Yes, my rather juicey epistle (the first one penned by me in many months) was eaten up by the Blog Monster too.
parent and teacher
August 8th, 2009
10:29 am
Reality 2 – not only do I post tests online, some of my tests can actually be taken online. I’d speak up except at my school, I don’t see that practice you describe and neither of my children (who are both now done) ever experienced it either (until college, in my daughter’s case). I can’t remember if you’re a teacher or not, but if so, does this happen in your school, and do you speak out? What is your school’s policy on this?
I’m sure the reason has more to do with test security and question validity than strong pedagogical reasons, but that doesn’t make the teachers who do this “lazy.”
gapeach
August 8th, 2009
11:36 am
“Turd”- Your name speaks for itself. How can you make a comment about what the majority of teachers do? Do you know the majority of teachers? I think not. You’re not using your own common sense to make such a statement.
To answer the original question: Yes, teachers can measure critical thinking without standardized testing. We can also tell whether or not a student is ready to move on to the next grade.
ScienceTeacher671
August 8th, 2009
11:51 am
Why doesn’t the state publish each year’s CRCT, EOCT, and GHSGT at the end of the school year?
Reality 2
August 8th, 2009
12:36 pm
parent and teacher
I am NOT a teacher. The math dept of my sons’ HS has this policy. When I first found out that they weren’t getting their tests back (to home), I asked their math teachers. I found out that was the department policy. So, I asked the department chair. She only said “all teachers in the department want this policy and I won’t answer any more of your inquiry.” So, I asked the principal about it. He did not respond UNTIL I e-mailed a school board member (and copied the principal) about this. It was funny how quickly I received a message from the principal at that point. Anyway, he simply said he supported the department policy. All this time, I was asking for WHY they have this policy, and these people seemed not to understand what that question is asking. Eventually, the board member also said they support the school’s decision.
When I shared this instance at a blog, there were a number of teachers who defended that practice. Some thought tests/exams they write are their intellectual properties and they have no obligation to let parents see the questions.
So, you appeared to be, unfortunately, among a minority of teachers who considers the educational values/roles of exams/quizzes.
I am still contemplating what step I should take next about my sons’ HS.
Reality 2
August 8th, 2009
12:38 pm
Oh, by the way, all the reason you refer to, is about teachers’ laziness. What’s test security after all students who missed the test take the test? What about question validity? Teachers can’t write more than one valid question?
They just simply don’t want to write tests each time they teach.
parent and teacher
August 8th, 2009
1:46 pm
I could see math teachers doing it, but it doesn’t really work for science as I said. Still, I’m going to argue about the lazy point (one more time, just for fun) – if it is a department policy and the majority, but not all of the teachers are for it, then using the lazy moniker on all is unfair – back to the broad brush thing I was talking about. Also, while it’s not always easy to write a valid question, it’s much more of an issue in the age of NCLB and “data driven instruction” (and you don’t really want my thoughts on that educratic BS) to have consistent tests. Is your HS on 4 x 4 block semesters? If that is the case, then I can see why the math department might be concerned about the tests – they want to use the same tests first and second semester to accurately compare all the kids in the group. If that’s not the case, then I have no answer for you.
As to the action you should take, I would go up to the school, ask to see the test there. If they won’t even let you do that, then I would have a problem, and it’s time to address with whomever is above the principal, following the chain of command.
“They just simply don’t want to write tests each time they teach.” It’s so much more complicated than that now – if only it were that simple.
Teacher Teacher
August 8th, 2009
1:54 pm
Reality 2, I have to step in here – creating a valid, error-free test is a LONG process. It takes a LOT of time – and there are methodologies that teachers use even for creating a simple multiple choice test. You just can’t put down a question and slap some answers in the multiple choice field. I can understand your point, but you need to understand that creating a good test is a major TIMECONSUMING process. Even if I use the bank of questions I receive from the textbook companies, then if I give back that test, then the next time I need to give that test, I have to create a WHOLE NEW ONE . .. back to the drawing board. I”d like to say that math teachers might have it easier (swapping numbers) but I have to tell you for language arts and history classes, it is a BEAR. Why can’t you have a conference with the teacher and go over the test there? I am more than happy to do that with my parents . . . I just don’t let the tests/quizzes go home. Now, if you’re willing to campaign for teachers to have additional planning time, then I am more than happy to create a new test for each unit (about 7-10) every year.
ScienceTeacher671
August 8th, 2009
2:12 pm
Reality 2, I think you should homeschool. You’re obviously smarter, less lazy, and know more about education than 99% of the teachers out there…and it’s highly unlikely that your sons would be placed with the 1% of teachers who would meet your approval.
Just sayin’.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
2:16 pm
Hey Earl, I see that Ms. Maureen actually let you on this blog, you beloved scoundrel and reprobate. There is hope in Blogdom after all. I agree with 671. “They” have indeed gone to a cookie-cutter method. Creative teachers are tossed to the wayside. Teachers who are allowed to have real authority…to be creative and to be able to confront head-on the bullies…can do so much for the children. But, alas! Those days are gone! I met yesterday with some very outraged parents. I feel so sorry for the mother of Jaheem. It is so sad. Children are chewed up in this “new” standard-type system. All testing and no discipline. Bullies thrive in this atmosphere. Children thrive when they are allowed to have creative and nurtuing teachers with some real authority to discipline the defiant and disruptive students. But, now, it is all about phony test scores (and the concomitant big-ass raises for the superintendents). It is about filthy lucre. The love of money is the root of all evil. Didn’t the “judge” make a “decision” for $170,000.00? Reminds of what the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesized against. What is next? Men and Women in dark robes holding up cardboard signs with “Will mete out ‘jugement’ for money” scribbled with magic markers?
Y’all come visit me at The Hosea Williams Memorial Church of World Peace and Reconciliation Beginning in Clayco (off the Poine South Parkway). Tomorrow’s sermon: “Superintendents Worshipping at the Statue of Baal (Standardized Testing).” Next week’s sermon: “The Children Being Led Away Into SACS Captivity by the False Prophet Mark Elgart.” I will be speaking to an assembled mass of determined citizens in DeKalb at Rev. Eddie’s big-ass church on the topic of “How Can Our Schools Ever Improve With That Clown Crawford Lewis As Our Superintendent?”
I remain your devoted reprobate, the Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
2:20 pm
Hey Earl, I see that Ms. Maureen actually let you on this blog, you beloved scoundrel and reprobate. There is hope in Blogdom after all. I agree with 671. “They” have indeed gone to a cookie-cutter method. Creative teachers are tossed to the wayside. Teachers who are allowed to have real authority…to be creative and to be able to confront head-on the bullies…can do so much for the children. But, alas! Those days are gone! I met yesterday with some very outraged parents. I feel so sorry for the mother of Jaheem. It is so sad. Children are chewed up in this “new” standard-type system. All testing and no discipline. Bullies thrive in this atmosphere. Children thrive when they are allowed to have creative and nurtuing teachers with some real authority to discipline the defiant and disruptive students. But, now, it is all about phony test scores (and the concomitant big-_ss raises for the superintendents). It is about filthy lucre. The love of money is the root of all evil. Didn’t the “judge” make a “decision” for $170,000.00? Reminds of what the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesized against. What is next? Men and Women in dark robes holding up cardboard signs with “Will mete out ‘jugement’ for money” scribbled with magic markers?
Y’all come visit me at The Hosea Williams Memorial Church of World Peace and Reconciliation Beginning in Clayco (off the Poine South Parkway). Tomorrow’s sermon: “Superintendents Worshipping at the Statue of Baal (Standardized Testing).” Next week’s sermon: “The Children Being Led Away Into SACS Captivity by the False Prophet Mark Elgart.” I will be speaking to an assembled mass of determined citizens in DeKalb at Rev. Eddie’s big-_ss church on the topic of “How Can Our Schools Ever Improve With That Clown Crawford Lewis As Our Superintendent?”
I remain your devoted reprobate, the Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
2:29 pm
Ms. Maureen, This is my fifth (yes, 5th) time trying to post this one. I even “edited” Cr_wford L_wis’s name because he is a big cry baby and perhaps has asked his lawyer, Little Miss Josey Alexander, to write to the AJC complainging about the criticism of him. (I have received a couple of these pitiful-type letters. I ask her if she ever too Constitutional Law in Law School. It would help her if she simply read Sullivan v. New York Times Co.) Perhaps with the Supe’s name edited, this post may pass muster. I am now thinking that you guys are screening posts which mention his name. Don’t worry! You have Peter Canfield!
Hey Earl, I see that Ms. Maureen actually let you on this blog, you beloved scoundrel and reprobate. There is hope in Blogdom after all. I agree with 671. “They” have indeed gone to a cookie-cutter method. Creative teachers are tossed to the wayside. Teachers who are allowed to have real authority…to be creative and to be able to confront head-on the bullies…can do so much for the children. But, alas! Those days are gone! I met yesterday with some very outraged parents. I feel so sorry for the mother of Jaheem. It is so sad. Children are chewed up in this “new” standard-type system. All testing and no discipline. Bullies thrive in this atmosphere. Children thrive when they are allowed to have creative and nurtuing teachers with some real authority to discipline the defiant and disruptive students. But, now, it is all about phony test scores (and the concomitant big-_ss raises for the superintendents). It is about filthy lucre. The love of money is the root of all evil. Didn’t the “judge” make a “decision” for $170,000.00? Reminds of what the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesized against. What is next? Men and Women in dark robes holding up cardboard signs with “Will mete out ‘jugement’ for money” scribbled with magic markers?
Y’all come visit me at The Hosea Williams Memorial Church of World Peace and Reconciliation Beginning in Clayco (off the Poine South Parkway). Tomorrow’s sermon: “Superintendents Worshipping at the Statue of Baal (Standardized Testing).” Next week’s sermon: “The Children Being Led Away Into SACS Captivity by the False Prophet Mark Elgart.” I will be speaking to an assembled mass of determined citizens in DeKalb at Rev. Eddie’s big-_ss church on the topic of “How Can Our Schools Ever Improve With That Clown Cr_wford L_wis As Our Superintendent?”
I remain your devoted reprobate, the Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
2:32 pm
Five (5) attempts at the same post. Must have a message that scares the AJC Screener. I give up. Perhaps I will show up in another week or so. Looks like the same ole AJC stuff. jim d, I am out of here! This is do know…this one WILL publish! The other one must scare someone. They don’t want to know the truth. A another watered-down blog full of pablum.
Tony
August 8th, 2009
6:29 pm
It will not be possible to measure “Critical Thinking” by way of a “test”. Critical thinking skills vary widely between different children. To even think that some form of common assessment could uniformly measure critical thinking is ludicrous. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, ministers, policemen, firemen, news people, nurses, stock boys, mechanics, air line pilots, …., all people must employ critical thinking in what they do and all jobs require different kinds of analysis.
Each new test that is developed further pushes us into thinking that everyone should be alike. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Wake up people. No more tests! Do away with the ones we have.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
6:57 pm
Hey Earl, I see that Ms. Maureen actually let you on this blog, you beloved scoundrel and reprobate. There is hope in Blogdom after all. I agree with 671. “They” have indeed gone to a cookie-cutter method. Creative teachers are tossed to the wayside. Teachers who are allowed to have real authority…to be creative and to be able to confront head-on the bullies…can do so much for the children. But, alas! Those days are gone! I met yesterday with some very outraged parents. I feel so sorry for the mother of Jaheem. It is so sad. Children are chewed up in this “new” standard-type system. All testing and no discipline. Bullies thrive in this atmosphere. Children thrive when they are allowed to have creative and nurtuing teachers with some real authority to discipline the defiant and disruptive students. But, now, it is all about phony test scores (and the concomitant big-_ss raises for the superintendents). It is about filthy lucre. The love of money is the root of all evil. Didn’t the “judge” make a “decision” for $170,000.00? Reminds of what the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesized against. What is next? Men and Women in dark robes holding up cardboard signs with “Will mete out ‘jugement’ for money” scribbled with magic markers?
Y’all come visit me at The Hosea Williams Memorial Church of World Peace and Reconciliation Beginning in Clayco (off the Poine South Parkway). Tomorrow’s sermon: “Superintendents Worshipping at the Statue of Baal (Standardized Testing).” Next week’s sermon: “The Children Being Led Away Into SACS Captivity by the False Prophet M$rk Elg$rt.” I will be speaking to an assembled mass of determined citizens in DeKalb at Rev. Eddie’s big-_ss church on the topic of “How Can Our Schools Ever Improve With That Clown Cr_wford L_wis As Our Superintendent?”
I remain your devoted reprobate, the Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon.
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
6:58 pm
Six attempt so far. Hmmm. Must be something that I am saying… This will post, I am sure.
Will this post? Testing 1, 2, 3...
August 8th, 2009
7:00 pm
This is just a test of the Blog Broadcasting System (BBS).
Rev. Jimmy Jack Bourbon
August 8th, 2009
7:04 pm
Hey Earl, I see that Ms. Maureen actually let you on this blog, you beloved scoundrel and reprobate. There is hope in Blogdom after all. I agree with 671. “They” have indeed gone to a cookie-cutter method. Creative teachers are tossed to the wayside. Teachers who are allowed to have real authority…to be creative and to be able to confront head-on the bullies…can do so much for the children. But, alas! Those days are gone! I met yesterday with some very outraged parents. I feel so sorry for the mother of Jaheem. It is so sad. Children are chewed up in this “new” standard-type system. All testing and no discipline. Bullies thrive in this atmosphere. Children thrive when they are allowed to have creative and nurtuing teachers with some real authority to discipline the defiant and disruptive students. But, now, it is all about phony test scores (and the concomitant big-_ss raises for the superintendents). It is about filthy lucre. The love of money is the root of all evil. Didn’t the “judge” make a “decision” for $170,000.00? Reminds of what the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesized against. What is next? Men and Women in dark robes holding up cardboard signs with “Will mete out ‘jugement’ for money” scribbled with magic markers?
Y’all come visit me at The Hosea Williams Memorial Church of World Peace and Reconciliation Beginning in Clayco (off the Poine South Parkway). Tomorrow’s sermon: “Superintendents Worshipping at the Statue of Baal (Standardized Testing).” Next week’s sermon: “The Children Being Led Away Into SACS Captivity by the False Prophet M$rk Elg$rt.” I will be speaking to an assembled mass of determined citizens in DeKalb at Rev. Eddie’s big-_ss church on the topic of “How Can Our Schools Ever Improve With That Clown Cr_wford L_wis As Our Superintendent?”