Comments on: A Petition to reduce the use of Standardized Testing in Connecticut http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/ Working to educate, persuade and mobilize through "perceptive and acerbic" observations about Connecticut Government and Politics Tue, 21 May 2013 01:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Luv2Teach http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6564 Luv2Teach Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:48:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6564 That’s awesome, Luis. You’re sister’s story really has be seriously considering opting-out both my CMT-aged children. I know one of them would do it with no problems (as long as I gave him the proper tools to handle the interrogations he will get), my youngest not so much, unless others joined. I may try to find others in my district willing to opt-out. There are only 2 years left of CMT, so what’s the point? Coincidentally, both of them received their scores from last year today. They were both at Goal and 1 was Advanced in writing. I know they’re learning and they’ll be fine… I don’t need this test to tell me so, or to be used to judge their schools or their teachers. Thanks so much for sharing this story.

]]> By: Luv2Teach http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6563 Luv2Teach Sat, 15 Sep 2012 20:41:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6563 I feel your pain! There aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything they expect us to do! and yet we get up and go in every day!! And I could tell you it’s not for the money (duh;) it’s for MY STUDENTS who need me! Yet, like you say, we are still demonized by these people!

]]> By: begtodiffer http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6561 begtodiffer Sat, 15 Sep 2012 09:56:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6561 All I know is that I am exhausted, trying to find the time to plan lessons that meet every child’s level, and one class right now has 36 students in it, thankyou Team Vallas, correcting papers and making sure there are meaningful comments on them to hang and display on a huge bulletin board, deal with behavioral issues that a psychiatrist would find both challenging and disturbing, making endless phone calls to parents who are already tired and stressed out trying to make enough income to support their households, placating a dictorial administration whose bottom line is endless data and testing…and let us not forget teacher evailuations…a system in place to make sure no teacher is left standing! Parents, please realize how damaging these standardized tests are for your children…opt out and please be patient with your child’s teacher. We all long for the day when we can actually TEACH and not be demonized by corporations and politicians….thank you.

]]> By: msavage http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6548 msavage Thu, 13 Sep 2012 19:08:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6548 That’s wonderful. I’m glad your niece made the decision to “opt out,” and for very good reasons. I will discuss this further with my little girl as the time for this year’s CMTs draws nearer. But I won’t push too hard and I certainly won’t force her to sit out the test. This is an issue where I feel she should be able to make her own decision based upon age-appropriate information.

]]> By: jonpelto http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6537 jonpelto Thu, 13 Sep 2012 14:12:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6537 Great idea! Count me in.

]]> By: Luis http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6536 Luis Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:59:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6536 This is the story of my sister who “opted out” my niece two years ago. My niece was nervous about what the other students would say but did it and that was that. The next year, my sister gave my niece the option, and my niece chose to opt out on her own. We need to have workshops on this and empower people to make those choices themselves.

http://www.realhartford.org/2011/08/31/back-to-school-guide-reclaiming-your-childs-education-12/

]]> By: jonpelto http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6534 jonpelto Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:48:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6534 Excellent point – it would need to be done in teams with enough parents that children wouldn’t be bullying.
More research and thought is definitely needed

]]> By: Melanie Savage http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6533 Melanie Savage Thu, 13 Sep 2012 13:44:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6533 Here’s a problem that I’ve run into re opting out. I brought the idea up with my little girl (she is 9 years old). It made her nervous. She doesn’t want to be different than the other kids. She doesn’t want to stand out. I tried to explain to her on her level why I think the test is not worth taking. It didn’t make a difference. I’m not going to force her to sit out to make a point. It will be her decision, and right now she’s not comfortable with sitting out.

]]> By: jonpelto http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6530 jonpelto Thu, 13 Sep 2012 12:30:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6530 This petition will provide a good list to reach out to about how one opts out.

]]> By: JMC http://jonathanpelto.com/2012/09/12/a-petition-to-reduce-the-use-of-standardized-testing-in-connecticut/#comment-6527 JMC Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:20:00 +0000 http://imnctnetwork.com/waitwhat/?p=2915#comment-6527 I agree with you, Paul!

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