The Third Child is in Middle School and I'm All Renegade

I know I have posted several times about how many tests are in elem and middle school and here I go again.  When my youngest son was in his last year of elem school last year, the burn out of our kids was really apparent.  By December there are already so many tests--teachers and principals are asked to have so many -- all to prep for the Big Test in April for which teachers have to make sure their students pass.  Or else there are bean counters in the county office watching. 

In early Sept the kids are tested to assess how ready they are for the Big Tests in April.  Then of course you have other tests for grades (which mean nothing now because you can be passed to the next grade for poor grades but not if you didn't pass the Big Tests in April).

Then there is the IQ test which isn't clear to anyone that that is what it is (called the Cogat) and then there is the ITBS--the National Test which is the only "bubble in worksheet" test I had to take as a kid.

In December the students are tested Again for the Big Tests in April to again assess the status of where extra help may be needed to do well on the Big Test.

My third son was excited about middle school earlier in the year being able to see new kids from the one school he had previously attended his whole life and also being able to have several male teachers.  This week the teachers were honest with the kids as they told my son that coming up are two days in which they will be tested to see how they will do on the Big Tests--AND that they will see some info they have not yet been taught so to just guess and do their best.  And that it doesn't count for a grade but to try their best anyway.

The following week after these assessment tests are "midterms" on the material they Have learned and it IS for a grade.

So, guess who is staying home for two days?  It turns out that I had scheduled dental appts for two sons one of those afternoons.  But I am doing what I can to try and eliminate some burn out.  And make a statement.  They have have the scores from last April.  Kids don't sway much much how they score year to year.  My three children have been consistent every year.  Sitting in classes taking more tests on some material not even learned yet is not ideal.  But my son and I are lucky in that I am home and can have him home with me. 

BTW, one male teacher is super cocky and told us parents on curriculum night that he is very competitive with the results of the Big Test in April and each year tells his students if they have the best scores in all of the other classes then he will do something they vote upon like wear a dress.

His students are the kids who have been in the "gifted" classes in elem school.  I am not understanding what he is worried about.  He will never have a student placed in his class who just moved from another area and has a file about 3 inches thick with behavior issues, poor grades and a lack of parenting.

Other teachers I know agree it is a waste of time.  I should add up the hours taken away from teaching something interesting or doing something creative due to all this pre-testing of the Big Tests.

Why do we have the state criteria Big Tests in April?  Because once upon a time parents demanded schools with good test scores.  Hubs suggests that I attend a County Board Meeting and speak my opinion to the School Board or somehow let other parents know what is what about all this pre-testing.  It would definitely be an example to the Board of why some many parents would prefer a Charter School (which is a slippery slope to think of the behaviors and grades then left remaining in the schools).  Hubs has already spoken up enough on many items to most likely have his name written down on lists in the county office.

So tomorrow I will have my 6th grader at home.  He always helps with whatever I ask.  He is better at cleaning his bathroom than either of his brothers and he will reorganize the pots and pans cupboard and dust the furniture.  And we will have hot chocolate.