Re: [Phys-l] STUDY SUGGESTS NO CHILD LAW MAY BE DUMBING DOWNSTUDENTS

["Mariam Dittmann" <mariam.dittmann@bainbridge.edu>]

The explanation we got about why these high stakes tests were needed was
to prevent social passing.  When the tests were given, and we had A/B
students failing the test, we put into place an appeals process to say
that if they had the grades and not the test scores then they could
still go forward.  So now, we have a high stakes test that only holds
back students who fail the test and fail the classes if the parents
whine loud enough.  What's the point - other than to make elementary
school children cry and middle school & high school students give up?

My son did eventually "get over it" and is doing very well in college,
perhaps because of this.  But, I know others who did not "get over it"
and eventually, because they failed the tests, they began to do poorly
in classes too.  Perhaps they were just being socially passed.  Perhaps,
this became a self-fulfilling prophecy - tell them that, despite their
passing grades they didn't learn the material and so they have to repeat
the grade - then next time they won't try as hard because they are just
going to fail the test anyway.

______________________________________
Mariam Dittmann, Ph.D.

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
[mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Rick
Tarara
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 9:49 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] STUDY SUGGESTS NO CHILD LAW MAY BE DUMBING
DOWNSTUDENTS

I don't see the value of shielding students from high stakes
testing--they 
will encounter it sooner or later driving test, SAT, GRE, college exams,

job interviews, performance evaluations, etc.  There can always be a 
mechanism for students who have performed very well in classes but
tested 
very poorly to be retested, but testing is part of life.  Get over it!

Rick

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mariam Dittmann" <mariam.dittmann@bainbridge.edu>
> He had extreme test anxiety.  We had high stakes testing starting at
> late elementary.  He was always convinced that he wouldn't be allowed
to
> move on.  We once spent a week getting him over a skills testing
session
> (ITBS) that he was sure was going to keep him out of the next grade.
> This was simply because he had heard that a high stakes test was being
> developed and so he decided that this must have been it.  He also
> worried himself sick about the graduation test.  I am not a fan of
high
> stakes testing for this reason.  When we expressed concern about this
to
> the county during the development of high stakes testing for our
> county/state, we were told that students like my son were in the
> minority and so weren't considered a problem.  Generally, I have found
> that the students who need to worry about whether they will pass don't
> worry enough for the most part while the ones who do worry shouldn't.


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