Dear President Obama,
National over-emphasis on standardized test scores is devastating our local public schools and students.
Students who have trouble passing the tests are repeatedly drilled on the same subjects – math and reading. Often low-income, minority, or students with learning disabilities, kids labeled ‘failures’ by the testing system are defeated by continuous focus on their weaknesses and the “bubble tests.” They are hindered from developing potential strengths in other subjects.
Students who pass the tests still see their curriculum shrink. Science, Social Studies, Writing, and the arts have been de-emphasized so much that many students and teachers now question their importance. Teachers are often pulled from regular classes to tutor low-performing students, leaving average and high-scoring students with substitutes and worksheets. Middle class students in public schools are not receiving as strong an education as their parents had, and many will graduate without sufficient preparation for college or the work force. Being able to pass three multiple-choice tests a year is not enough education; the next generation needs a balanced curriculum.
If test-score based sanctions and rewards continue to dominate our schools, our children’s generation will not have enough engineers, scientists, doctors, nurses, teachers, historians, leaders, writers, etc. The average citizen will not know enough about government or history to make educated choices when voting. Lacking writing skills, they will not be able to communicate effectively to improve their personal lives, their businesses or their government.
I am a former language arts teacher. Since 2001, I have supported Guilford County schools in North Carolina as a PTA President, community activist, tutor, and testing proctor. These positions have allowed me to observe the effects of the No Child Left Behind Act up close, and discuss testing issues with teachers and parents from many schools. Dedicated administrators, school board members and teachers in our diverse district wrestle daily with the impossible challenges set up by the NCLBA. I have seen teachers struggle against, and finally succumb to pressure to ‘teach to the tests’ as scores on the EOG’s have taken priority over every other criterion for evaluating teachers and schools. Good teachers and principals have taken early retirement or found other ways out of the classroom because they cannot stand the constant testing environment.
My daughter made straight A’s and scored in the top percentile on EOG tests, but was not taught to write (essays, etc.) in middle school because writing is not tested. Writing is a major skill like reading or arithmetic that must be developed over years, but because of NCLB it is neglected in our schools.
Attacks on public schools, including those created by the NCLBA, are hurtful to the middle class. The NCLBA will leave the majority of our public school students prepared for little but factory work, in a country where factory jobs are becoming less common. I believe this could lead to major societal instability as these unskilled graduates and drop-outs look for jobs.
Please listen to public school teachers and parents, and consider the negative effects of the Bush Administration’s bipartisan “No Child Left Behind” act. Not only has this legislation failed in its goal to bring every child to a standard reading and math level, but I believe it has lowered education standards around the country.
Thank you for the work you are doing for our country. I am one of millions of people who believe you are one of the greatest presidents we will ever have. Helping our public education system change direction and recover from No Child Left Behind is very important. A strong public education system is imperative for our democracy to remain viable.
Sincerely yours,
Sharon Shepard
