Kim Frencken: That dirty seven-letter word

Testing. We've all shuddered at the very mention of testing. One or two stressful weeks of intense testing that is supposed to tell what we've taught our kids in the previous 7.5 months. Minus snow days, holidays, and student absences. Mornings where the routine is completely renovated to accommodate the best time to test. Days where our educational instruction time, that has been so critical all year, is suddenly thrown out the window.

Testing. What we teach all year - either consciously or subconsciously. The objectives that drive our curriculum choices. The standards that a business consortium decided kids needed to learn - age appropriate or not. The skills that we cram into every precious minute. Even if you are a teacher that hates tests. Even if you insist that you "Do not teach to the test!" Yes, even you. You are teaching to the test every day- like it or not.

Testing. "Let's base teacher salaries on student scores," said no teacher EVER. Sure. And while we're at it, why don't we judge parents on their skills for the number of days their child was sick, absent, or fell asleep in class. Sure. Why not? After all test performance depends not only on retention of skills, but also on physical and mental well being. Test performance also requires that a student be present to learn. Wow! You mean the kid has to actually be in school? Ummmm... that would help. Personally, I loved being evaluated on my scores when 4 new students moved into our district the week before testing started, 7 of my kiddos were chronically absent, 2 didn't live in English speaking homes, and only 25% of my parents were actively involved in their child's education. That's fair. Not!

Testing. Ruins the beauty of spring. Dashes a child's hopes of running and screaming at recess. They have to be quiet because the big kids aren't finished yet. Specials? Well, they've been canceled so math skills can be tested. Lunch is now a solemn affair interrupted only by whispers from staff. The hallways have also been littered. With posters of encouragement for everything from eating a good breakfast (forget the kid whose mom leaves for work at 4 am and they only eat dry cereal), getting a good night's sleep (what about the kid who has to stay with a sitter until their parents get home from the late shift), and doing your best (the teacher has told them all year that they are doing their best and now the test is telling them that Basic isn't Proficient).

Testing. Reduces kids to labels and teachers to nervous wrecks. Alters a normal routine into a quiet chaos. And. For. What? State scores. Funding. Ability grouping. Newspaper articles.

And... after testing. Kids are finished and yet school continues. So... if we've only been going to school to learn what we need to learn so that we can perform well on a test why are we still in school weeks after testing is over? Good question. Maybe a guy in a suit could answer it!

(For more of Kim Frencken's writing and information about her educational products, check out her blog Chocolate For the Teacher.)