More CSAP Garbage

Well, I've now taken to carrying a tape recorder with me when I pick my son up from school.

Last week my son was very ill and out of school the entire week. We took him to the ER Sunday and he was diagnosed with Bronchitis and sent home on a nebulizer and codeine cough medicine. Monday morning I received a phone call from the ER doctor and was told Ben had strep. So antibiotics were ordered and I called the school to makeup work ready to be picked up.

I was put on hold by the school secretary and suddenly the principal was on the line. Asking me how Ben was and how much he was missed (I started at that point to get suspicious as she's never inquired as to his illnesses that kept him from school before). She then immediately went into another spiel telling me why Ben should take the CSAP (that was coincidentally going on while Ben was sick) It was just a regurgitation of everything covered in the meeting the week before. I said "I'll talk to my husband about it" and hung up.

Later that day as I was picking up Ben's work from his classroom teacher, the teacher accosted me too. Only her approach was much worse. She stated that Ben not taking the test is going to jeopardize the rest of the field trips for the year and the class's participation in an upcoming play. I asked why? She stated that it had to do with percentages of kids taking the test. All I said in response was "Well, maybe the school or class needs to come up with different criteria for participation, especially since the test results don't come back until next year. Then she patted me on the back and said "Well dear, it's your decision".

This conversation took place in front of my son's entire class.

Ben will not be taking the makeup CSAP and I will now begin recording each and every conversation the principal and the teacher has with me.

CSAP Drama Unfolds

I would like from the beginning of this note commend Ben’s teacher and the school’s principal for taking the time to discuss the CSAP testing issue. While I don’t think the conclusion of the meeting was to their liking, they were most gracious and put forth excellent arguments for Ben taking the test.

We had a lively debate regarding the bad and good of standardized testing and standards in general.

I, of course, was the boisterous contrast to my husband’s laid back, “authority” figure. He and I compliment each other well and make a pretty good team. His ability to command attention is the opposite of mine, but most effective and will serve him well in his pursuit of administrative positions in any educational environment.

The pressure for the school in getting the students all on board is immense and the pressure to pass is even more so. And I fully sympathize with the administration’s almost desperate situation. Control of the school hangs in the balance if more and more parents decide that their child shouldn’t be taught to a test.

I will at this point make the point that Ben’s school does a fabulous job balancing teaching the test and including other subjects not covered, providing a good all around education. That is precisely why Ben is attending that particular school. But the principal even conceded that there are many schools who spend their entire day and year teaching children how to and what’s only on the test exclusively.

Ben’s teacher has a heavy emphasis on Science in her class, something that isn’t taught on the test. And my husband and I appreciate that. It’s the fact that not all teachers are as conscientious in this area.

The punitive nature of the testing itself is enough for me to say no to it. There is no reward for doing well on the test. There is only the promise of continued autonomy as long as you are up to par. Not to mention the amount of money it costs to administer and grade the tests.

There are so many reasons that Ben will not be taking the test and the situation would have laid less heavily on my mind had his principal not been so reasonable and agreeable.

What it comes down to is that it’s the principle of the matter, a matter of differing philosophy, an unwillingness to work within the system if working within that system means my child will be taught to take a test. It’s the fact that Federal mandates are bullying our children’s districts and schools to adhere to punitive and negative policies that will keep my children from a full and liberal education.