Questioning the Wisdom of New, Common Tests

In a Letter to the editor published online and in print, Maryann Klaus, with 40 years experience as “teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent” questions testing: Why, when all of the research points to gains made by a focus on teaching and learning, formative assessment, teacher collaboration, and strong leadership, is the government looking to increasingly restrictive and nonproductive tests? Surely officials have learned by now that standardized testing does nothing but promote a frenzied search for programs supposed to help schools meet those tests’ requirements. This strategy hasn’t worked for 40 years, and it’s not about to miraculously work now. Ms. Klaus’ experience and allegiances differs from homeschoolers’, yet, for me having those who actually work with kids questioning testing can’t be a bad thing. I will also note that not all homeschool activists have been as helpful in questioning testing.

Questioning the Wisdom of New, Common Tests