TESTING – TO WHAT END?

by Ruth A. Sheets

PSSA (Pennsylvania State System of Assessment) testing in the areas of Reading and Math begins Monday, March 12^th.  This is the big stakes testing that every PUBLIC SCHOOL student in the state grades 3-8 & 11 must submit themselves to.  I can’t help wondering “to what purpose?”

The testing takes place in March for Reading and Math and April for Writing and Science.  The scores take months to come back.  By that time, summer is upon us and results are set aside until September.  By then, students have moved, children have changed schools, and teachers have retired, transferred, or moved to a different grade.  Thus, the data is only marginally helpful.

All public school students take the tests.   Over time, the primary purpose seems to have become making comparisons between and among schools.  The wealthiest districts are set against the poorest and of course always come out gleaming in the glory of their high scores.  The poor kids, oh well, their teachers just suck.  That’s why they don’t get at least “Proficient” scores. 

The readers who see the scores in the newspapers don’t think “Wow, I guess having a lot of money and good resources in the schools does make a difference.  Why don’t we see that all of our schools have the same advantages.  Wouldn’t that create the most amazing work force in the world!”  The reader actually thinks, “Something has to be done about those awful schools.  They should fire those teachers.  Their union gets them so much money and look how badly their kids do!”

The threat hangs over every disadvantaged school. You’re going to close if you don’t improve.  What happens then?  Where do those kids go?  Will one of the wealthy districts absorb them?

Not likely, but even if they do, what will happen to those children?  They will be at the bottom of every class, no matter what their actual abilities.  They will be seen as second-class citizens at best.  No one will think this is a problem since “at least this situation is better than the school they used to go to.”

What about trying something different?  What about making the playing field a bit more fair?  Instead of doing the annual score comparisons, use the tests to see where the whole state can come together to support our most needy children.  Instead of pumping money into charter schools, (often run by private companies) give struggling schools the best leaders as principals.  Give resources to repair schools, playgrounds, and parking lots so that students will have a school to be proud of.  Provide counselors and psychologists as well as other support staff to help kids deal with the personal issues that get in the way of their learning.

Use the latest research to figure out how to improve student health.  Have nurses in every school to address basic health needs.  Provide all schools with music and art as an integral part of student education, not just something you do when you can get around to it.

In short, if the PSSA is not going to help to improve learning and school life, stop requiring it.  Use the millions of dollars it takes to administer it to do some good for our children.  Oh well, I know that won’t happen!  Too many people benefit from the tests, none of those people our children.  And, there’s that “accountability” thing.  But only teachers and sometimes, principals are held accountable. 

The poor children and their families are too busy just surviving to commit the time and energy to fighting the injustice.  That leaves the battle against injustice to the rest of us.  I don’t think we have the will.  Too bad!  We do like to think we’re caring and fair.  Surprise!