Of course, the first few sentences in this chapter made my skin crawl... and related directly to my current school situation.
I read on page 111, "test scores may be rising, but that's at least partly as a result of states lowering standards to meet the law's demand that all students become proficient by 2014." And, I am reminded of a recent conversation I had with our high school counselor. The counselor used to serve our one and only middle school (small county) and moved this year to us (next door). I was in her office one day asking for advice - what do I do? My students simply cannot perform. They cannot add much less solve an algebraic expression. How did they get to me (9th grade) with so little knowledge? And, here's what I heard - its a problem. I agree. But look at the middle school - although its not advised, they still ability group, somewhat... and teachers water down the curriculum for the struggling students. The 80 they earn is actually equivalent to another child's 55, but if the standards aren't lowered - they won't learn anything. Where do you draw the line? I am not saying its excusable... I'm just saying that is how it is.
So, yes! If anyone can relate to the dumbing down of standards - its me. And, quite honestly it affects me, the high school teacher in a negative way. Then, the students reach high school where remediation is not allowed... so these kids get stuck. And, since the standards were lowered until me... they cannot figure out the sudden change in grades. The school cannot figure out the sudden drop in proficiency - really? I mean, come on - if we are going to have standards - stick to them. And, if not - allow me to teach what my students understand... don't do both... in different grades - don't lower standards one year and require higher standards the next. Everyone in school needs to be on the same page.
And then... the chapter continued. I love the quotation from Zhao when he warns that the emphasis on "centralized curriculum, standardized testing, accountability, required courses of study - could kill creativity.." duh. I look at my classroom and I realize that not everyone is the same. I have students on a 9th grade math level and students on a first grade math level. And, the state requires I teach each one the same material - why? I want to meet my students where they are, but I cannot. I don't want to lower their standards - I want to meet them with a standard they can master and slowly (bit by bit) bring them up to speed with the current standard they need. Instead, I receive students with half learned, watered down standards who are unable and not willing to master the ninth grade standards. And, I (although willing) am unable to meet them where they are. They are dying in math... dying in school... and losing the value of education. Its an endless cycle. A crazy one. One that drives me nuts. We are not only killing readers, we are killing students. And, I honestly do not know a solution to stop the madness.
