The new book I'm reading is Whatever It Takes, by Rick DuFour. While I'm only about a third of the way through, a statement in the book hit a nerve. The book describes the standardised testing done in schools and compares the testing to an autopsy. I felt he was right as far as the MEAP test.
At the beginning of each school year the State of Michigan has schools test students on what they learned from the previous year. The data will come back to the schools around January. The schools then study the results and "tweak" the instruction to help the next batch of kids. I believe this is why the test is compared to an autopsy. If there is a problem we change instruction for a different group of kids. If this is important information, shouldn't the kids now a grade up get what they've missed? What new information would be missed if we add "old" curriculum?
Schools can't keep doing autopsies. We need our tests to be physical exams. I don't expect Dr. Flannagan at the State to read this and change the MEAP. Schools need to test students on standards and perform physical exams. If a school find a problem we treat the issue NOW. We can't afford to wait for next year's students. All our kids will compete for jobs in the new world economy, and all deserve the best the school can offer.
posted by MiddleSchoolPrincipal @ 8:24 AM
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