Our country continues to have the conversation about how to prepare our children to succeed. Currently, the focus is on measurements, metrics, data, objective measures, assessments, ad nauseum. This has had some unintended consequences. Primarily, by over-emphasizing the results from student performance on standardized tests, we've seen some very fundamental misunderstandings about what that data means and what it can or should be used for. We've also seen a corresponding de-emphasis on non-tested subject areas and skills.
In answer to college professors complaining about the caliber of students in their students, a Maryland teacher explains how the current testing structure limits teachers and prevents them from doing what they know they should do. If you're not regularly checking out the Washington Post's education coverage, do.
The article mentions a famous blog post (in EdWeek) from the 2009 Teacher of the Year called "Teachers Should Be Seen and Not Heard". Here it is.
Too much of the discussion is by consultants, "thought leaders," and politicians who have little understanding of what takes place in the classroom. If you're aware of any other teachers and career educators that we, here in little ol' Tennessee, should be reading, pass it along . . .
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