Saturday, May 31, 2014

Let's go back to basics! ... Submitted to NBEA

Does anyone else feel like all we've done ALL YEAR is test students. I went to college to be a teacher not a tester! Between the dibels, DRA's, common assessments, benchmarks, MCAS, and piloting parcc, I didn't have time left to teach very much! Bring back the days of textbooks, workbooks, and paper and pen tasks, we grew up in that world and came out as intelligent, successful citizens! Let's go back to basics! 

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

I definitely agree with the post above re. ALL the testing done this year. What about the kids that aren't being tested and warehoused in auditorium to kill time spending it on "playing with their electronics!" Between testing. disciplining students, constant interruptions. . . . . students coming late to class, ELECTRONIC USAGE, etc., it has been a year wasted! Students don't know their basics. Half of them can't write a complete sentence (or recognize an incomplete one), don't know their multiplication tables, and count on their fingers. It is very sad! We need to get back to basics. . . . . updated textbooks and workbooks. Big corporations are making LOTS OF MONEY on all the testing packages school districts buy so teachers end up "teaching to the test.

Anonymous said...

So true!

Anonymous said...


It's still not over! The students can't even spend June in peace. EOY Tests in a variety of areas in all grades, followed by ridiculous data gathering forms that teachers must complete. We are told that these will result in feedback to guide our instruction-HA! In 3 years we have received just one email with "feedback".

We are the experts. We need to stand up and shout it! Their feedback is late, non existent and/or USELESS! The tests are poorly designed and do not reflect the actual strengths and weaknesses of our learners. The only info gained is what poor child can't outwit a test designed by lunatics.

Anonymous said...

The students are cooked. Now lets get the data to cook the teachers. You've gotta love it!

Anonymous said...

What TEACHING???. Just interludes of cramming between TESTS!!!

Anonymous said...

"Reformers have spent the last 20 years convincing us that we are incapable, and must rely on outside experts to constantly tell us what to do and how to do it. We have been turned into nothing more than the retail clerks of education, infantilized and disempowered in our own psyche, and our own schools."

-Cheryl Gibbs Binkley

Anonymous said...

As a parent I see 3 of the above to be valuable
Dibbles
Benchmarks
And mcas but mcas should start at grade 6

Anonymous said...

Sounds like Durkin is abusing the curriculum adoption process and turning this turn-around plan into an experiment and three-ring circus. Mitchell Chester, Durkin, publishing companies have a lot a stake. Dirty politics, power, and money.

Anonymous said...

This superintendent is using our students as guinea pigs. She doesn't give a damn about them. Instead of truly helping this district flourish, she's sinking money in nefarious places

Anonymous said...

What is wrong with these people that are suppose to be the experts, don't they see that children are not learning ?? All they do is take tests!!!! That is why we have behave problems like never before because as teachers we don't have the time to teach them social skills. They don't get it at home and now they don't get it at school, because God forbid if we stop to teach kids right from wrong that is not rigorous enough!!! I am getting so discouraged with it all, if I had the years and age I would get out !!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

If you think it is bad now, wait until all the newbies are hired.

Anonymous said...

If I had the years, I would get out of teaching . I encourage the younger people to find another profession that where they will be respected and appreciated.

Anonymous said...

I think the pressure here has got to come from parents (voters?) in the form of opting their children out of standardized testing. God knows the teachers are not being listened to or heard, because we don't represent that big of a voting bloc. Parents, you can opt your kids out of MCAS, PARCC, and some of the other tests as well. Educate yourself as to your rights, and don't let school administrators tell you or your children otherwise! Get involved with the Opt-Out Movement, and the SE Mass and RI Coalition to Save our Schools. Children are our most precious resource, don't let them be "lab animals" for corporations!

Anonymous said...

It's all big business that cares about the dollar-not the children.

Anonymous said...

More mayhem at Roosevelt today-at least two fights with three teachers being assaulted. Yesterday, a student lighting matches in class. Several students had to be removed from an assembly today by an officer due to their behavior. Earlier this year-a bomb threat and the building was evacuated, more student fights, students bringing knives to school, a student chased down the hall by another student with a knife, fires set in the bathrooms, damage to the building, and the list goes on. And yet the principal acts as if there isn't cause for alarm, and has behavior students milling around the office daily! When kids are suspended, it's only for a day. This principal needs a reality check

Anonymous said...

It's not the principal that needs a reality check it's our community! None of this makes sense! Entitlement from parents and kids, assaults on all fronts. Administration that turns a blind eye! Who would want to come into NB and teach?

Anonymous said...

No one.....