tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post2589786341345201828..comments2024-02-07T01:10:02.045-05:00Comments on Jon In Albany: OptionsJon in Albanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05766493068147115690noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post-30490466416861529542015-04-24T23:15:44.374-04:002015-04-24T23:15:44.374-04:00Anonymous- I agree with most of what you say. As o...Anonymous- I agree with most of what you say. As of today, the test scores are going to be used to evaluate teachers in areas without large enough opt-out numbers to impact the results. I am in one of those areas.<br /><br />In my older daughter's 5th grade class, no children opted out. In my younger daughter's 3rd grade class, 1 child opted out. In the eyes of the powers that be, that level of opting out - even if my kids were added - is statistically unimportant. These test scores - which I agree "are inappropriate for the purposes they are being used for; poorly designed and carelessly crafted; insufficiently validated; and psychometrically questionable" - will matter to our teachers.<br /><br />I don't know what the future holds. I don't know if will opt out my kids next year. I don't know if the tests will even be given next year. But as I sit here typing right now, I think we made the right decision.Jon in Albanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05766493068147115690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post-77978559674539306682015-04-24T20:17:16.789-04:002015-04-24T20:17:16.789-04:00I see other gains besides sparing your kids. The ...I see other gains besides sparing your kids. The testing regime is ill-conceived and poorly executed--a house of cards. Though the tests may be minimally stressful for your academically capable children, and they will get ice cream and pizza, there is more to the story than the effect on individual children. the tests are inappropriate for the purposes they are being used for; poorly designed and carelessly crafted; insufficiently validated; and psychometrically questionable. The only weapon available to parents is to opt out so the structure will not be viable. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post-77484186760312114082015-04-22T15:56:32.752-04:002015-04-22T15:56:32.752-04:00That’s a really good question, and one we have ask...That’s a really good question, and one we have asked ourselves several times since the testing began.<br /><br />Before making the decision, we reached out to a lot of other parents we know and respect for their thoughts on the testing. The majority was planning to have their kids take the test and it was becoming pretty clear that there weren’t going to West Seneca Falls opting out numbers (70% opt out rate) in our two classrooms. It would have been a protest vote, but not a very significant one that anyone in the position to do anything would have heard nor would it impact the teacher evaluations.<br /><br />My older daughter had taken and passed the test already. She wasn’t really concerned about the test, the results or any consequences for her teachers. The test is a nuisance to her. She was confident (and we’re confident in her too) that she was going to do well on the test.<br /><br />If my younger daughter had already taken the test, the chances of us opting out would have been better. It kind of turned into a confidence building/face your fear head on/just do your best kind of thing. After the first day of testing, she knew she could do it. She came home quite pleased that she finished, checked everything over again and still had time to spare. Day 2 she had less time leftover, but still finished and Day 3 was like Day 1. The test has become just a nuisance to her too.<br /><br />We really like the elementary school our kids attend. About 18 months ago we moved. The search radius for a house was pretty small. It had to be within the boundaries of this particular elementary school. The only thing the move impacted in terms of schooling was the bus route. Part of our opting decision actually did turn out to be labor dispute, but the opposite of what Tisch was arguing. NYSUT has nothing to do with it. We are very confident that both of our kids are going to pass this test or beat the average or be on the high end of some scale that has yet to be determined. So we opted-in to help their teachers and the school we love score well. I don’t think those scores will prove anything about the high quality of our teachers. If someone in State Ed needs a number that says these teachers are good, we’re confident our kids can help supply that number.<br /><br />The other part of the decision was a life lesson. You can’t always take your ball and go home. There are always going to be tests. There are always going to be hoops to jump through. Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up. Doing well on the SATs doesn’t mean you’re going to do well in college. It just means you know how to take the SATs - which I would argue is another stupid test. We tried to help avoid this situation completely with our votes. I urged people to vote for Teachout in the primary. I will always remind people that Cuomo was too big of a chicken to debate her - although I understand his reluctance, since she would have embarrassed him in a debate. I voted against the governor (which was the first time I ever pulled a Republican lever for a big elected position). I’ll vote against people that support these education policies in the future. If I write my Assemblyman or State Senator, it would be to thank them because they both voted No on the budget. We didn’t win. So here we are.<br /><br />The only gain we saw in opting out would have been sparing my kids some nonsense. Nonsense they are going to have to deal with throughout their lives. They’re done with Day 1 of the Math now. Just a few more hours of testing to go. Then on Saturday we’re going to go on a soft serve ice cream tour and eat pizza.Jon in Albanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05766493068147115690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post-50080787165839395572015-04-22T13:51:28.853-04:002015-04-22T13:51:28.853-04:00I guess I'm also wondering why you didn't ...I guess I'm also wondering why you didn't opt out. Perhaps there's more at play here : <br /><br />...what do the students do when not test-taking? ...would there be social blow-back from other kids / teachers if your kid opts out? ...how many other kids opt out? any avenue for discussion amongst local PTA? ...etc<br /><br />Can you elaborate on why you chose to "opt in"?Sean in NYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13431152549351773692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2989376878473705758.post-78639597746336211192015-04-22T12:38:25.273-04:002015-04-22T12:38:25.273-04:00Given all this I am wondering why you did not opt ...Given all this I am wondering why you did not opt out. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com