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I-STEP on this...
Posted Monday, January 19, 2009, at 8:29 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link | Next >>
ISTEP. This is the word that comes to mind when I think of public schools.
The pressure to pass ISTEP is forcing some students to drop out of the public school system. At the same time, the public school system is being pressured to accomplish the impossible goal of having all students pass the ISTEP. The public school system faces losing funding if its students aren't making adequate yearly progress and the bar keeps being raised each year. By 2013 all students will have to pass the ISTEP. All children should have the opportunity to receive a quality education as well as a high school diploma. But, not all children are the same. ISTEP, for the most part, holds all children to the same standards and this is an impossibility. A special needs student should not be held to the same standards as a mainstream student. Not all mainstream students are even the same. ISTEP is a flawed model. A better solution must exist for the future education of our children. We are setting a number of our children up for a failure that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Timberly Ferree is a staff writer at the Greene County Daily World. She can be reached by e-mail at tferree@gcdailyworld.com or by phone at 1-800-947-4487 or (812) 847-4487. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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I agree. In New York, they have a different system that works. If you are an average student, then it's required that you get X number of credits and a passing grade. If you are capable of more they have Regents courses. You have to get double the credits, but no scores or attendance counts except the Finals at the end of the year. Whatever you get on the finals is your score for the entire year. The course work is harder and heavier, but for me, it was easier. I just studied hard for one test and that was my score.
I think an adaptation of that here would be beneficial. I think it's horrible that some students would be forced to drop out over a test. That puts them in a position of being behind for the rest of their lives. It ends up being elitist as only those capable of passing the I-Step would have the best chances of making it in life. Einstein likely would have been forced out as he was a terrible student. Yet, look at what he contributed to society.
Queenie
I think the hardest part of refining the ISTEP problem for school officials is answering this question: Who's a normal student?
I agree completely with Timberly on the fact that there is no student alike to one another.
I am a senior at Bloomfield High School. I get mostly A's with a few B's mixed in. I'll use my Pre Calculus class as an example - each and everyone of the students in that class learn differently. Some students learn visually, others by simply taking notes. Other students need one-on-one attention to pass the class. The bottom line is, no one student is similar to another. School officials, in my opinion, need to get away from standardized testing and simply evaluate each and every student individually. Some students are great with homework and in-class assignments but stress on tests and fail them. Test Anxiety should not hinder a student from graduating high school with his or her fellow classmates.
Don't get me wrong, I believe all students should be at a certain level of knowledge before graduation. There needs to be a formula, however, to decide at what level of knowledge that particular student has to achieve.
Timberly, you are finally taking a stand about something other than finding inspiration in someone or something.
I'm glad you moved this over to your blog. When I read your editorial I wanted to stand up and cheer.
I agree with your I-STEP statements, and applaud your shift to writing about issues instead of sentiments.
Dr. Buchholz remembers you well Timberly. There is no question why. You are such a good writer and not afraid to take a stand on your beliefs. I think it is great that someone is finally taking a huge stand on ISTEP. Now all we need is someone to take a stand on No Child Left Behind. Forcing a student of another ethnicity to be english proficient within 3 yrs of moving here is insane. Most American born college graduates can't grasp our english language. Why force other ethnicities to be english proficient within three years? You couldn't be proficient in French in 3 years.
Not only is it setting the students up for failure, but ISTEP also is setting schools, teachers, and, in my opinion, parents up for failure. The rules are changing soon but teachers having to send home letters to parents that a class failed the ISTEP when the teacher has only had them a few weeks seems insane to me. Kids need to be tested on what they have learned all year, not what they know when they start the school year. By the time summer vacation is over, most kids have forgotten what they learned previous and the teachers have to cram in several weeks of refresher information just so the kids can try to pass this test. I agree with what everyone else is saying though. We need a new system, a good system, and one that gives everybody a chance to pass. With the focus being primarily on ISTEP in the state, teachers have had to ditch teaching children things like life skills and other valuable information, which is wrong. The children of this country deserve better than they are getting.
My fingers are crossed Obama ditches NCLB and does a total overhaul of it. It's a waste of paper for the most part because children are still being left behind.
Greene County Patriot...you clearly have no clue about schools.
Charter schools are not the answer. They won't fix anything. I had a conversation with a teacher from the Metro school in Indy. I asked how they came to admit certain kids. She said they looked for kids from struggling backgrounds that were falling behind in school(very noble). I asked if they took those kids that cause disciplinary problems...She said no. I asked if they took lower IQ kids...She said they did not. She said they take high IQ and ability kids that are struggling and instruct them. I don't know of very many teachers or schools that have high ability kids that don't cause problems...struggle with ISTEP. I'm sure some politician has Indy Metro on their list of success stories. How could they fail?
Not to mention early childhood education. My daughter started school this year. She is a bright kid, but we haven't pushed her hard. She has always been read to and we always make a learning experience out of things. She walked into school with some kids who didn't even know you read from left to right, ABC's, any of their numbers, couldn't spell their name, etc... My daughter is a position to learn. Some of those kids were not. Every teacher will try their best to get them up to speed. Throw in the fact that many parents just don't care...how will a charter school help? It won't...but somebody will bring up charter schools as the answer.
Schools are not businesses! You wouldn't want schools to run them like one. Because if they did...loads of kids would be shown the door. We are in the business of educating everyone, which is often a difficult task.
Polar Bear, they are moving the ISTEP to the spring. The kids have to take it twice this school year I believe.
I agree GCP but i have one problem, the money has to come from somewhere to offer these choices. I dont know about you but it is harder to make ends meet these days and I sont think that people are willing to watch their taxes jump.
Keep talking...it clearly shows the level of knowledge you have concerning schools.
Some schools are doing rather well considering they have problems charter schools do not(they get to pick and choose their students). It is true that some are not doing as well, but how will a cut in funding and an exodus of students fix the school? It won't!
Competition? I guess you would like schools to be ran like a business. Sure, sounds great...as long as public schools get to play by the same rules. Imagine what are public schools would look like without the discipline problems or the kids that qualify for services(financially and academically)....wait..then we would be just like a private/charter school.
Since you seem to like to read up on the greatness of charter schools. Find a private/charter school that takes the same demographic as the local public school. Then compare their scores...you will find out...they don't do any better.
The comment about teachers pay shows your complete cluelessness about schools in general. They actually make less than public school teachers. As for pay according to the success of your class....what happens to the teacher that gets the lowest level students...should they be paid less? I guess the most popular teacher that gets the who's who of the school must be the best teacher...they have higher test scores. RIDICULOUS!!!!!
Children treated like cattle??? Yes, we have even instituted the cattle rod to get those ISTEP scores in check. Actually, students outnumber the teacher 20+ to one. Teachers care, but it is hard to teach each kid a different way. We have Bloom's Taxonomy and countless other tools we try to use to teach a variety of ways, but it isn't easy.
Most parents want the kids to learn. Choice becomes more important when you feel your child is not getting what they need. It is possible they are slipping through the cracks, but good parents don't allow that. They get involved the push the envelope at home and support the school. In reality that is one of the biggest perks in a private/parochial school. Parents pay tuition and education is a priority. I think you would be alarmed at how many parents are a non factor in their childs education. They just want someone else to do it for them.
Schools aren't businesses. A church has budgets, employess, and peoples needs to meet...I suppose they are a business as well.
The problem with schools has a lot more to do with parents falling asleep at the wheel.
Funny how I read in this paper about local schools being "best buys" or receiving other such accolades and administrators being quoted in such stories about how well they are doing, but when the criticism comes, the finger gets pointed at the parents.
No parent is perfect. No school is perfect. This is a story about the education system, not parenting. I'd like to see the education system improved instead of the usual blame game that the educators always fall back on.
I don't know which I find more disturbing. Expat's comment, or the fact that another person actually agreed with it.
I can't argue that bad teachers should be shown the door, but what qualifies a bad teacher?
The blame game is a road that is fruitless. There are amazing parents out there that really work to help their child...and not all of these good parents have kids passing ISTEP. At the same time there are an alarming rate of dead beat parents out there. maybe there always has, but in this day and age everyone is held accountable.
Since when does schools have money thrown at them...most are just scraping by. We've cut our arts and trade courses to streamline things for the 21st century workforce. The government wants schools to produce graduates ready for the global economy. Apparently music, art, ag, and shop classes are not part of that equation. Although Twin Rivers does fill some of that void locally.
The Union is what it is...it protects its members. What else is it supposed to do. There are times i get frustrated with them, but in the end they protect all teachers(the good and the not so good).
I still would love to know how competition would improve schools...What do you think all this ISTEP and Public Law 221 stuff does. We compete against ourselves from year to year. If 80% pass this year..then 81% must pass next year(even though completely different classes will be measured. Schools have to have extremely detailed improvement plans among other things as well.
I guess the need for competition implies teachers don't really work that hard. We have summers off, you know. Of course, we have to take classes in the summer to keep our licenses renewed. They aren't free!
I'll throw my two cents in! I have never liked the ISTEP test because it is a one size fits all mould, and it takes the LD kids and counts their scores with the same weight. That is not fair to them or the school. When scores, become tied to the monies coming in, it creates the perfect storm for testing irregularities. And one local school has dealt with this in the last few years.
I have thought for several years now that we should be offering a technical/labor oriented curriculum for HS students. By 9th-10th grade most have a good idea about whether they will attend college or not. Why do we stuff the round peg in the square hole. We should offer these kids curriculums that will give them the skills to get jobs out of high school that don't require 4 year degrees. These kids are not going to go to college even if you make them take the Core 40 stuff. Some will drop out. Why not give them skills to be able to work in factories, Walmart, mechanics, heavy equipment operators. These are jobs that pay pretty well. It will also allow kids in the traditional format that want to go to college, a more advanced,faster paced curriculum.
Also, in elementary, certainly by 2nd grade, why don't we have a designated math teacher, english, etc... for each grade. The kids would get more focused learning on these elements at an earlier age. I think it would help with some of these test scores.
Just some random thoughts....
No one says you have to be a genius to pass the ISTEP. Just learn the basics of what you should be learning to pass the classes and you should be able to pass the ISTEP.
"gracielynn," are you kidding? Would you repeat your words to a child who makes great grades, pays attention in class, tries very hard to everything he or she can to be a good student, and STILL doesn't pass the ISTEP? Because IT HAPPENS. It's generalized assumptions like yours that make teachers--and parents of children who didn't pass the test--want to scream!
Fortunately, ISTEP is gone! Yes, gone. Unfortunately (maybe) it has been replaced now by a series of tests at the end of the school year. The scariest part of this is no one knows - including the Dept. of Education - how it's going to work! Go figure - legislators change the rules and no one knows what they are.
Umm..."bradcrites," ISTEP may be gone on the high school level (the replacement tests you refer to are called "Core 40's") but ISTEP is, unfortunately, alive and well in the elementary schools. In fact, students get to take it again this spring (yes, they took it last fall)...that's twice this school year. Beginning with next school year, the testing period moves to the spring. Sorry to rain on your parade.
Man made global warming is real.
Not only does elementary students still take the ISTEP. They will take the writing part in early March and the skills portion toward the end of April. Twice the fun :)
The general term "ice age" or, more precisely, "glacial age" denotes a geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in an expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers. Within a long-term ice age, individual pulses of extra cold climate are termed "glaciations". Glaciologically, ice age implies the presence of extensive ice sheets in the northern and southern hemispheres;[1] by this definition we are still in an ice age (because the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets still exist).[2]
More colloquially, when speaking of the last few million years, "the" ice age refers to the most recent colder period with extensive ice sheets over the North American and Eurasian continents: in this sense, the most recent ice age peaked, in its Last Glacial Maximum about 20,000 years ago.
Guess the water is gonna rise no matter what. Man made global warming? No way to stop it. So relax folks. It's a coin toss anyway. Maybe we could soon have another cold spell where our man made global warming just might allow us enough time to learn how to relocate and colonize other planets. Or, maybe not.
Maybe we need a new world order...maybe we need to make Obama dictator of the world.
Or how about taxing only parents to raise money for schools. Till then, childless but heavily taxed me thinks Istep should be legislated away.
Our Education of tomorrow's future is broken. We do not pay the teachers enough money and like today's military we cater to the unfortunate few. I'm sorry but I feel student's today need a hard and rude awakening. Leave no one behind is a farce. We cater to the few and punish the others. I have 2 children in high school and if one person can't get the subject then the whole class is behind on the subject. The real world doesn't cater to the ones that keep up. I agree with the Core 40. It is just the basics that every student should know and you can take it from freshmen to senior year, once passed you are good to graduate when it is time. I recruited for the Army for 3 years adn it amazed me that there are kids out there that can't do the basics like English, Math and reading. Maybe it is the teachers to an extent but more of the parents looking for the world to teach there kids. Wake up America, we are low ranking in the world for education and foreign student come to America and exceed because they are not looking for the free handout.
Maybe this administration can get us back on track. LOrd I hope so
On a broader perspective, I think the biggest problem with educating a child today is the child's parents, or lack thereof.
I am so tired of hearing the complaints about teachers and schools failing in teaching the kids how to read and write, add, subtract, divide, and multiply. Parents rarely have control over their children these days, so how can one expect our schools to teach them anything?
No great wonder home schooled children keep winning the national spelling competitions.
I think the problem is that America's technology grew so fast that it outgrew the number of adults that could grasp the technology. This new technology has also led to new ways of math, thinking, etc... the kids in school are being taught the "new ways" while their parents are lagging behind. If the parents can't help outside of school, then the kid is pretty well screwed. If the kid doesn't grasp the subject being presented they are essentially "left behind" because there is no one to help them when school is not in session.
Well hopeanddust not all parents are like that, I know alot that have respect from their children and those children learn from their parents and teachers, some kids just do not respect anyone no matter what the parent does...those are the lost parents.....not everyone that is a parent should be, me included.
I don't forsee us being able to fix the "bad parents" problem with our education system. So are we going to just use that as an excuse, or do the best with the kids that we can?
I thought this was America.
I thought that Americans when the going got tough, the tough fought through the challenges and succeeded.
I guess this is just Greene County.
In reference to the Core40 exam, it is actually a more difficult exam than the ISTEP. Starting with this year's freshman class, students have to take the Algebra Core40. If the student does not pass, he or she will not get the credits for that class and be forced to retake it. As one student that has taken the Core40 in Algebra I and II, the exam is the most difficult test I have ever taken. Even the higher level students in ny classes thought so. If they can barely pass the test, how will the lower level students pass?
Wow..I posted and then it's gone. That happens when you offend someone with the truth I suppose.
Hopeanddust: If they made Obama dictator of the world I WOULD relocate and colonize another planet!