On behalf of the Acushnet Teachers Association, I'd like to congratulate Massachusetts students and educators for topping the nation once again on an exam known as "The Nation's Report Card."
The state announced on Oct. 14 that Massachusetts students ranked or tied for first on the National Assessment of Educational Progress mathematics exam in Grades 4 and 8, the two grades tested. Previously, Bay State students outscored the country on the NAEP reading tests in those grades.
This success can be attributed to many factors:
•Hard work of our students
•Parents who encourage their students to demonstrate respect, responsibility, and effort in school
•The innovation, dedication, and resourcefulness of teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators.
It is also important to note that the states that perform the best on the NAEP tests have the strongest and most active teachers' unions. This reinforces that good teaching conditions are good learning conditions.
The NAEP also shows that we still have achievement gaps in this state. Low-income and minority students do not fare as well as others, though African-American students made significant gains in this year's math test. We must continue striving to close those gaps — an effort that requires resources as well as hard work.
Even as we work on continued improvements, now is a time to praise students and educators for the tremendous success they have already achieved.
Christopher Saulnier, President of the Acushnet Teachers Association
2 comments:
Did this appear in the Standard- Times? Well written!
for once the Standard Times didn't sensor a letter from a teacher, let alone allow it to be published... oh, that's right, he's from Acushnet, not New Bedford
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