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AGH I haven't
AGH I haven't been on in awhile! I could list a lot of reasons why (school, my novel..) but I won't (; I missed you guys! How's it been?
For me, for the past few days, it's been pretty exciting actually. My brother and I are the first in our district in NY state to refuse the state testing. I'm really nervous and shaky and I feel like I'm "The Girl From the Tarpaper School" when she stood up for what's right. For those who need a background on the state testing...
It's gotten worse in the past few years, especially with Common Core (basically a not too good education that stresses kids out). The tests don't test how well you did this year like finals, they test you on things you probably didn't learn about. Or even mixing ELA into Math which some kids find hard if they're good at Math and Science, and now they have to write a paragraph explaining how they got they answer. That's just an example, and I know this may be a bit of a rant but this is pretty... big I mean.
You guys can share your thoughts about the testing if you want (: Thanks!
submitted by Moss, age 13
(March 29, 2014 - 10:18 am)
(March 29, 2014 - 10:18 am)
I've only been starting to post again lately, too. xD
I dunno, I'm not sure about that. I just go every year for the standardized tests and it's not too hard, so yeah.
Anyhow, it's good to be back in my nest! I missed all of you too!
(March 29, 2014 - 12:06 pm)
Well, it's pretty rough on the kids in public school, especially the elementary school kids. They also don't show how well you do in life. Sure, for me, they are easy, at times anyway. Other tests are harder than others over the years. And many struggle through the tests because of how they're set up, even though they're smart in most areas of learning. It's pretty unfair how they don't tell the teachers what to expect and that they change the how-well-you-must-do-in-order-to-pass scores each year. They raise the bar, lower it, etc. And the teachers' evaluations are based on the kids' scores, which is even more unfair.
So it turns out that I'll just be reading for most of the week in a room with my brother... it's better than taking a test made by an idiot. (I know that was a bit ranty too.)
(March 29, 2014 - 3:34 pm)
Oh, testing. I probably shouldn't enter this coversation because I have too many strong opinions on schools in general, but here it goes....
Those tests sound absolutly horrible! I know there's one test (MAPS*, I think?) where the questions get harder the more you get right, but they go back down if you get ones wrong! Why would you quiz kids on stuff they didn't learn? If you haven't learned it, you can't be expected to know it! Sure, kids learn outside of school, but I know that I'd rather do something I like and understand than studying for something that I won't even really know! If you are going to quiz us, teach us.
Good for you, Moss, for standing up for what you believe in!
*I live in MN, and I realize the tests are going to be different.... we have MCAs and MAPs. Do we do MAPs anymore? I don't know.
(March 29, 2014 - 7:42 pm)
Our school does MAPS, I think three times a year. It's just to see where we are learning wise, but they said that if we improved a certain amount we would get bonus points on our midterm, which was weird.
In agreement with Moss on how *insert non Admin approved words* the tests are. And they start on the first day of Camp NaNo. Yeeha.
My aunt is really into protesting the Common Core, and her kids aren't going to be taking them. Lucky...
(March 30, 2014 - 7:17 am)
If I were to actually go in detail about my opinion of the school system this post would be 10 miles long, but suffice it to say that the school system has not catered to my individual needs at all.
I hate Common Core testing, too. It's horrible. And MAP testing-- *shudder*.
And teachers who discriminate against students for things they can't control...
Okay you know what I'm just going to make a new thread for this.
(March 30, 2014 - 8:57 am)
Moss! Welcome back!!! Missed you.
I don't have anything to say about public school testing, but you've just given me an opinion about it. I'm glad your'e standing up to them, though! :)
(March 30, 2014 - 5:20 pm)
*hugs* I missed all of you (:
And I'm glad I gave you an opinion, True! I'll give an update probably tomorrow about the testing because soon everyone will be whispering about my brother and me... o_O We're usually the quiet ones so this is pretty weird...
(March 30, 2014 - 6:33 pm)
Ok, so it turns out that for refusing the test, I can write my novel for Camp NaNo, do homework, and read :D I'm getting a lot of people to do it for the math test since it's too late to refuse the ELA. So far, 10 people have refused in our middle school... hopefully that number rises!
(April 1, 2014 - 11:18 am)
Hey Moss--nice to see you again! Cheers on standing up against the testing!
(April 1, 2014 - 9:02 pm)
I have an iReady that is basicly MAPs.
I got 11th grade level. oops.
(April 2, 2014 - 6:05 pm)
Wait, how do you refuse state testing?
(April 3, 2014 - 2:17 pm)
I once again haven't been on in at least two weeks oops. I was writing by novel. I'll be peeping in more often though!
S.E., you refuse the tests by taking a stand. You can send a letter in to the principal with your parents' approval stating you're not taking the tests. Or, like thousands of kids in a town near me, just plain out refuse. My parents and I did some research about the topic and you can too. I hope more and more people refuse the tests so they'll be gone for good. Like I said, I felt like "The Girl In the Tarpaper School". Instead of just one person leading the way, there should be hundreds and thousands. Nothing will happen if you don't try. Something will happen if you do try. ;)
~Moss
(April 13, 2014 - 5:37 pm)
Top please...
(April 13, 2014 - 7:15 pm)