Poll Results RE: High Stakes Testing & NCLB

Though not experimental and only 38 people responded, the results are interesting. Those 38 people who responded have strong opinions regarding high stakes testing.

For the statement: The young people I know enjoy high stakes tests and they think they provide valuable information about them as learners.

One (1) or 2.6% respondent STRONGLY AGREE with the statement.

None (0) or 0% AGREE with the statement.

None (0) or 0% replied DON'T KNOW.

Four (4)  or 10.5% DISAGREE with the statement.

Thirty-three (33) or 86.8% STRONGLY DISAGREE with the statement.

The total % = 99.9%

Though 38 responded to the above statement, only 35 provided information about who they are. Who are those 35 who responded to the statement? Highlights are:

Twenty-nine (29) or 82% are educators.

Seventeen (17) or 48% are students in elementary school. Wonder what middle and high school students think. 

Twelve (12) or 34% attend college or a trade school. 

None (0) or 0% love NCLB and high stakes testing.

Twenty-five (25) or 71% question the value of NCLB and high stakes testing.

Thirty three (33) or 87% have either a Master's or Doctorate degree. 

None (0) or 0% is neutral. 

Twenty-two (22) or 62% say they work actively to debunk NCLB and high stakes testing. 

Sec. Spelling admits lack of educational credentials

This one is GOOD. 

Go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zSjexw0Gvs

Congressman Honda nails Spellings and Spelling shows her ignorance.

Share far and wide. This is too good to miss.

Yvonne

Hello!

And shame on all of you for daring to question the ruling elite. Who in the world do you think you are - - "we the people"??

My name is Tauna Rogers, a fellow resister. Guess you could say I do my resisting rather quietly because I am in no position to risk my job - that is I work through cyberspace rather than raising much of a stink in my own school district. Yvonne and I have been getting acquainted via email. I'd like to contribute occasionally to this blog as well as introduce you to my blog. Please stop by and comment if you'd like! I try to use a little humor and satire to point out the absurdities and outrages taking place under NCLB and high-stakes testing. And goodness knows we need some laughs now and then under this oppressive and regressive regime.

Keep up the good fight.

Connecting to other BLOGS

To connect with other BLOGS a good idea is to post something on a comment and provide this link.

Just be careful about where one posts the comments. One might get some well for lack of a better term a non-thinker. And we wouldn't want that.

Google: Out on the Stoop and you'll find some great blogs there.

Yvonne

The beginning of the end for Reading First?

Good News!! (See below) It's the system we have, so until we get a new one...we need to celebrate any progress we can towards a better education system within this system!
Also, I'm getting the opportunity to help some parents start a group called "Hands On, Hands Off" for appropriate assessment for students with disabilities. More on that as it develops...
Lastly, we need to have this blog linked with other blogs and websites...any ideas??

From Education Week at edweek.org
House Panel Would Kill ‘Reading First’ Funding
By Alyson Klein
Washington
The controversial federal Reading First program would be eliminated under a fiscal 2009 spending measure approved
unanimously today by a House Appropriations subcommittee.
In explaining the
decision to zero out the program, Rep. David R. Obey, D-Wis., the chairman of
the House Appropriations Committee, cited the results of a preliminary federal evaluation of
Reading First, released May 1, which found that the program has had no impact on
students’ reading comprehension.
Reading First “has been plagued with
mismanagement, conflicts of interest, and cronyism, as documented by the
inspector general,” Rep. Obey said, referring to a series of reports by the U.S.
Department of Education’s watchdog that suggested conflicts of interest had
occurred among officials and contractors who helped implement the program...

Letter to Obama re: Education & NCLB

Hi all,

Here is a GREAT opportunity to sign a letter fashioned by some of the greatest minds. This letter is written to Obama. Obama will be fielding questions and he needs to know what we think. The guy is, I believe, educable.

Link: http://www.avwebnet.com/EducationReformLetter.asp

Go get 'em!

Yvonne Siu-Runyan

Breaking NEWS!

Please read this article. The Rogue Desk recognizes Ed Kame'enui as profiting on the backs of our kids.

Kame'emui is a special ed person, not a literacy person. 

Link: http://wweek.com/columns/rogue/#43.31

Wise Words.....

I just read an article about Sidney Poiter's message to his great-granddaughter.

Poitier's Quote: We all are obliged do something for the universe. The universe is where we live; it is our home base. I believe that our greatest obligation is not to abuse it.

Link: http;//www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/books/0612/sidney.poetier.ap/index.html

Back to School

I went back to the school I was fired from for my daughter's 8th grade graduation Tuesday night. I had at least 10 parents come up and shake my hand and thanked me for what I did. I also had a 7th grade young lady inform me that some 7th graders were trying to organize and make up T-shirts in support of my students not taking an unfair test, but were 'squashed' by some teachers and the principal.

It was apparent that the teachers were scared to talk to me (except one) and just tried to avoid me. Several of the parents told me they had talked to teachers who supported me, but said they were afraid to say anything publicly for fear of losing their jobs. The principal, superintendent, and the school board all insisted I had to be suspended and then fired, because I refused to follow the law. Yet, they used threats and intimidation to keep the rest of the teachers in line and violated their 1st Amendment rights. Hmmmmm...was it about the law or just following orders and not questioning authority?

Also, I have had a parent in a neighboring county contact me letting me know that they were inspired by my stand and their son with a disability's failure of another adapted test to start a organization to fight unfair standardized testing. I'm meeting with them next week. I'll give ya'all updates as that progresses.

It has been a boost to see that my refusal to test is starting to have an effect here in North Carolina!!!!

And, finally, here is a story about Wake Forest University here in North Carolina (a pretty prestigious school) dropping the SAT as a requirement.

Can you say irony?

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1809580,00.html?imw=Y

Yvonne elected!

We are very lucky to have elected a new leader in our profession who has both the knowledge and courage to stand up for what is right for Kids! Congratulations go to concerned educator, Yvonne, Vice-President elect, & NCTE President in 2010. Thank goodness we have someone in a leadership position who will speak against the insanity of NCLB and Reading First!

A Remarkable Message from a Remarkable Young Person

This YouTube video has an important message from a remarkable young person. Please listen to her message.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZmz6Rbpnu

A Bolder Approach!

"The Broader, Bolder Approach to Education" was just released by a task force in Washington, D.C. While not perfect, it is a definite step in the right direction! Members/signers include Debbie Meier, Linda Darling-Hammond, John Goodlad, and Ted Sizer. We can only hope legislators and others will read it and take it to heart! The website with info is:
http://www.boldapproach.org/ Check it out!

Connect the Dots!

Here are some links below that explain a little about some of the financial reasons behind NCLB. Come on, you know this law (or any other law for the matter which is passed) was not done for the reasons stated! It's all about the Benjamins, yo!!!

McGraws and Bushes are Skull and Bones. Speaking of Skull and Bones, the last presidential election should have woken up people to the uselessness of voting in national elections. You have no choice! Please DO NOT give money to major elections! Instead donate to charities; or, even better, give directly to families who need help. Political donations are really just corporate welfare-your donated money just goes into corporate coffers through television commercials!

I know Obama has been cleverly marketed as a savior from Bush, but he will do as he is told or he will lose the election or his life!

I still believe it will be another Clinton or Bush monarchy come 2009!

Discuss: Is Doug a conspiracy looney or does he use logic, reason, and facts to come to conclusions which the ministry of information conditions you to believe in order to keep themselves (the ruling elites) in power?

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/alerts/121

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/whatsnu_bush-mcgraw.html

You gotta read this article!

Go to link and read this article. "No Child Left Behind: Doomed to Fail"

Is Neuman trying to exonerate herself?

Link: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1812756,00.html

"High Quality Practice"-2nd grade,Reading First?

The summary of the interim report on the effectiveness of Reading First schools noted that time second graders were engaged with print was reduced by "a statistically significant 8.42 percentage points." These are kids in schools across 12 states, and in 18 sites within one statewide program. No matter what else we find out about what has been going on in Reading First schools, this should be a huge red flag waving in all our faces.

Instead of reading, these second graders had the time they were engaged in "high quality practice" increased, and the authors of the summary seem to imply that's a good thing, as well as first graders who saw their time increased for "highly explicit instruction." In a recent Ed Week article state administrators also bragged about how reading first has changed classroom instruction. Sadly these are not changes that will raise reading achievement, even in the short term, but I wonder who will study the impact these practices will have in squeezing any potential for raising life-long readers right out of these children.

In an email exchange with Mike Petrilli I was reminded of my first & second grade classroom experiences. I came to first grade reading, and the sight word Dick and Jane readers were staples that I remember finding humorous-since nobody I knew talked quite like that. The teacher celebrated my reading and made time for me to read and write little books. (I didn't like it when subs came because I didn't get the same freedoms.)

Then I went to second grade. In second grade we had to learn accents on words. We had to be able to hear them, and we had to learn how to record them on the right syllable on workbook page after workbook page. I was awful at it. (I don't think I could do it today.) I remember feeling like I was now less of a "reader." It was the first time in school when I did not feel successful. I thought that year would never end. And, to make matters worse, the teacher never smiled. (I remember because her twin subbed for her, and she smiled. Even then we knew the difference.) I know we received both "highly explicit instruction" and "high quality practice" on listening for accents. I even remember being humiliated at the chalkboard.

I survived that one year in a classroom with highly explicit instruction & high quality practice, but think about the kids who have been in Reading First schools for multiple years...spending less time reading, and more time in high quality practice.

Students, please share your experiences with high stakes testing. Do you think high stakes testing adds value to your education. Please explain.

Students,

We would love to hear from you. Please explain your opinion about high stakes testing. Do you think they add value? Why or why not.

What troubles you in school the most? Explain.

What would be your wish for education. Please explain.

Thanks you so much. We want to learn from you. Add what ever you think would be helful.

The Profits Made from High Stakes Testing!

"NCLB testing is estimated to cost between $1.9 billion and $5.3 billion over a six-year period from 2002 to 2008, depending on what type of testing states settle on...In 2003 Eduventures estimated that spending on testing and test prep would rise from $1.81 billion in 2003 to $2.29 billion in 2006. If one extends the projection to cover the same six-year period as they GAO's study, then states will spend $5.4 billion for testing and test prep between 2002 and 2008. (The extrapolation is reasonable because Eduventuures' projections are linear.)"

Link: http://www.diatribune.com/bush-profiteers-collect-billions-nclb-part9

Test publishers Profits Increase from 2001-2006:

McGraw-Hill

2001: $274 million

2006: $329 million

% Increase: 20.4%

Link: http://www.mcgraw-hillcom/about/annual_report/ar2006.pdf

Pearson

2001: 432 million pound loss

2006: 469 million pounds gained

% Increase: 210.0%

Link: http:http:www.pearson.com/index.cfm?pageid=58

ETS

2001: $4.2 million

2006: $7.6 million

% Increase: 71.9%

Link: http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?finald-101949244&101949244&npoId-556362&gotoNext=/reports/partners/guidestar/showFinancials.jsp

No more insane tests

Seriously Serious

My mother was concerned that I might not be taken serious because of my picture. So here is a more serious picture of me.

Below is the link to the podcast of my interview with Michael Baker on KZUM 89.3 in Lincoln, Nebraska. http://www.kzum.org/ I was nervous, but it was actually pretty fun and went by super quick! Thanks Michael!! It was interesting to listen to it. For an old Buckeye, I certainly have picked up quite a different accent...Cool!!

http://www.educatorroundtable.org/room101.html

Also, mad props to the whole Colorado anti-testing movement for getting HB 1186 through the legislature. This bill would have barred school officials from punishing students for skipping a state standardized assessment test. The Govnur' vetoed, but kudos on the progress anyway!!!

Schools should be places where democratic principles are upheld

In Colorado, our governor vetoed an important bill. His veto of a bill sponsored by Judy Solano shows that he doesn't understand the concept and importance of living democratic principles in schools.

Colorado Governor Ritter vetoed a bill (HB1186) that would have barred school officials from punishing students for skipping a standardized assessment test. 

I guess being punitive is part of the regime these days, for what, a dumb test? This is an outrage.

The good news is that we now know that Ritter doesn't understand or is able to learn from history, nor does he respect and understand our Constitution.

Please encourage the public to not give in to this kind of bullying.

Schools are supposed to be places where democratic principles are upheld. Ritter's action shows without a doubt that he is afraid, and is NOT up to the job of being governor. If one has to bully our young into taking dumb tests, then this tells all of us how ridiculous NCLB and high stakes testing are. 

Educating for Human Greatness

This is a great book. It will inspire and is important and is a great read. Purchase a bunch and pass out to parents or leave it in places like spas, doctors' offices, etc. 

Educating for Human Greatness by Lynn Stoddard

Cost: $3.00

Send inquiries to: Lynn Stoddard

PO Box 582

Farmington, Utah 84025

E-mail: lstrd@yahoo.com

Yvonne Siu-Runyan

Hey ya'all. Greetings from the mountains of North Carolina. My name is Doug Ward, and I have trouble following orders! (It's a special gift!!) I refused to give an invalid end of grade test (NCEXTEND1) to my students with severe disabilities and received a suspension with pay for the remainder of the year (whoo-hoo!!! a month's paid vacation!!!), and my contract was not renewed-I was FIRED!

The hardest part of this ordeal was being so serious in such an absurd situation. The merry prankster in me was dying to do some absurd political theater; but the serious, logical, straightforward approach worked best in allowing the system and the administrators to show their lack of logic and compassion!

Below are some links to the latest news and my you tube video. The first news link has my entire refusal letter printed at the bottom of the article.

http://www.smokymountainnews.com/issues/05_08/05_21_08/fr_saying_no.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj_bJkGTC8U

http://www.thesylvaherald.com/2008/052908/html/school_officials_fire_teacher_.html

http://www.thesylvaherald.com/2008/052908/html/letters_to_editor.html

http://www.thesylvaherald.com/html/letters_to_editor.html (good until 6-12 and then changes to link below)

http://www.thesylvaherald.com/2008/060508/html/letters_to_editor.html

Elementary Students Post!

Votes so far:

29 people completed poll re: Who are You?

Results: 24 are educators, 14 are elementary school students, 10 in college or trade schools, 12 parents or have grandchildren. NONE of them LOVE NCLB and high stakes testing. 21 or 72% question the value of NCLB and high stakes testing. Hooray. And 19 or 65% actively work to debunk NCLB and high stakes testing. This is great. 

Please let others know about this blog. If they would like to be able to post directly online, please have them contact me, Yvonne Siu-Runyan, at hanalei@indra.com

I can put them on the list of people who can actually post stuff and not only reply to the blogs.

I am Yvonne Siu-Runyan, Concerned Educator, who started this blog. I think it is important that we unite and let others know what we are doing in the effort to bring back reason and light to education. 

Do encourage young people to contact me. ALL are invited.

So far 31 people have responded to the statement: The young people I know enjoy high stakes tests and think they provide valuable information about them as learners. Only 1 person strongly agreed with this statement, 3 disagreed, and a whopping 27 or 87% strongly agreed. Hooray. 

We need to educate and relay the message that high stakes testing does not add value to the democratic presidential candidate! We don't need any more Halliburtons in education. 

Let's use this blog to communicate with one another, the young included. 

Lastly, if you are a student in our public schools, your voice MUST be heard. You students matter. Please contact me!!!! 

Thanks,

Yvonne Siu-Runyan

Let's USE this BLOG for research. Please respond.

A colleague suggesting using this blog for research. 

What do you think?

Any ideas?

Please share any ideas you have. 

You will be cited and included in the research if you so desire. Transparency in all that we do is important! 

What does at GRADE LEVEL mean anyway?

Okay, at grade level means where most of the kids at a particular grade level is.

The law of mathematics says that when one uses a normal bell shaped distribution, not everyone will be in the middle. Think about this concept.

Diversity is an asset, not a liability. 

Hey, I certainly am small on the normal bell shaped curve. That is, I am not what one would consider to be at "AGE LEVEL" with respect to my size. And nothing will change this.

We need to be educating for HUMAN GREATNESS. Google Lynn Stoddard. 

Let others know about this BLOG

Please let others know about this blog. We need to hear from everyone.

Students and parents are invited. Please join the conversation.

A blogger wrote something important

Here is an off line comment from a colleague.

"This could be a super research project, if it were designed to capture pros and cons. Any ideas for a research design using a blog as a tool? Sent fandomly to educators/ students and analyzed by groups? 

...Just a thought."

My comment: Any ideas? Let's have a discussion about this.

Would you pass on this blog to young people?

Would you please pass on this blog to our students.

Their voices need to be heard.

Thank you.

Yes, AC is right. We need to JUST SAY NO!

AC posted:

When a scripted program came into my school, back in 1998, I quit....I was in my 37th year of teaching. If I needed a script to to teach by then, I shouldn't be there.

Now the testing is as bad as scripting the teaching.

...

Hooray for the few, brave ones! We need all the heroes we can get!!!

My response: I couldn't agree with AC more. Let's stand united against the lunacy.

Our fragile democracy is at stake is so is our profession, education, which should lead out, not close in and make robots of our young.

Question to answer question

Anonymous wrote:

I would participate in your poll about student responses to NCLB, but it is two question and I would answer each differently.

Would anonymous provide more detail about the question.

What is the purpose of education?

I think that one way to resist the lunacy surrounding NCLB and high stakes testing is for us to consider:

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION?

I remember my father telling me that learning and being educated are things that no one can take away from a person. He also told me that learning should be a lifelong pursuit in order to better myself and the process better humanity.

This corporate model re: education via NCLB and high stakes testing benefits the rich corporations, not democracy. I don't think those NCLBers and high stakes lovers objective is to control the citizens of this country, and in the process get rich off the back of our young. Thus, their need to control teachers.

We need to be "in the face" of the NCLBers and high stakes testing folks and point out to them that being 21st century work force ready is an oxymoron. Geez, even those graduating from high school this year have experienced things no one could even imagine. Thus, the need to educate for human greatness, which high stakes tests  can't even begin to measure.

Question: One person said that the question re: high stakes test should be two questions. What might those two questions be? 

Teri Pinney

Teri Pinney, assistant principal, tells why she left the school district. She left because of NCLB and high stakes testing and the horrid environment NCLB and high stakes testing creates.

Go to: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/jun/01/teri-pinney-thanks-education-mentality-focused-fca

Pinney ends with, "I believe that misuse or overuse of standardized testing is crating a maddening race for everybody to that elusive finishing line."

Hooray for Teri Pinney. What wise words. 

Doug Ward, NC teacher who resisted

This is from Susan Ohanian' Web site. Susan asked an important question and also posts Doug Ward's letter about why he resisted.

Go to: http://susanohanian.org/show_yahoo.html?id=375

Teacher Heroes and Heroines

Go to these links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohTjtNVR6So

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj_bjkGTC8U

http://ednews.org/articles/26002/1An-Interview-with-Carl-Chew-On-Civil-Disobedience/Page1.html

http://www.thecbe.org 

http://www. susanohanian.org/

http://angelaengel.com/

Google: Don Perl, Angela Engel, Susan Ohanian, Stephen Krashen

More coming later.......

NCLB and High Stakes Testing

I wonder how long the lunacy of NCLB and high stakes testing will continue? NCLB and high stakes testing have been wagging the dog for far too long, and personally, I am sick of it. NCLB and high stakes testing have not added value. In fact, they have taken away value and instead placed them on dumb things in the name of accountability and standards.

The "so-called" landmark education bills recently passed in Colorado is a prime example.  Our fragile democracy needs brave citizens who are not afraid to stand up against the lunacy of NCLB and high stakes testing I applaud those middle school students in the Bronx, (students of Doug Avella) who turned in black tests. These students are the brave ones and should be applauded. 

Please be part of the movement to get rid of NCLB and high stakes testing, the Halliburton of education. 

Concerned Educator

P.S. I have seen educational fads come and go, but this is the worst ever. This one really harms.