macsenior08's Blog

I am not a huge fan of TAKS, but at the same time I understand why they exist. For those that want to get rid of standardized testing like TAKS, how do you propose we monitor if students are actually learning anything during the school year?

They are a double edged sword they show students know the most basic of skills they need to succeed, but they take time. Unfortunately, there are people out their that would do as little as possible such as back in the day where they just passed students through social promotion. TAKS at least is some sort of quantative measure. Would you rather have no idea what a student knows until they graduate and we learn they can't read beyond elementary level?

P.S. The TAKS test is not for the strong, it is for the weak student.

I agree completely with you TM. There are other ways of monitoring children's levels of learning. The TAKS is ridiculous and should be taken away right now.

I'm with Orphan, on this what method do you propose to determine that ALL the students have met the minimum requirements? I also agree with you that they are testing HS students at a junior high level, but look at how many still fail to pass. Yeah TAKS is a pain for everyone students, teachers, parents. Still what are the other methods to use other than testing to determine if someone knows the minimum. And like orphan said TAKS isn't for the strong student its for the weakest.

Sorry for the typos, needed to type quickly at the end of my lunch.

TM,

Sad to say what it takes to pass the TAKS is what many consider to be Jr High level. The math would probably give some older people problems because they haven't had a math course in years but remember you only have to get 65% to pass.

Here is the web site where you can look at released versions of the tests. You can even take them yourself. I took last years test just for grins no studying I passed all sections commended, and I've been out of school 30 years.

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources
/release/taks/index.html

Orphan is right in that until they can find a different way to test ALL students equally standardized tests will exist. Otherwise with our legal system as it is when some kid doesn't get passed there parent will sue because little Johnny was discriminated against.

TM-I don't trust some of the teachers out there...sad but true. There are many times middle and high school teachers get kids who don't have fundamentals and yet they made it that far. It is hard to bring a kid up to grade level who hasn't mastered elementary level skills. Sad, but this is especially true for math because there are more English based teachers in elementary schools than math. An English teacher should not be teaching math, they typically don't know those little exceptions to the rule a math teacher typically will. So kids end up learning things through little songs because they are easier for the english teacher to teach, except there are those pesky exceptions and TAKS will most definitely throw that exception right at the kid...and the kid doesn't know any better.

MAC- Actually there aren't enough teachers to replace bad ones. Heck there are long term subs even with the bad ones. You may have learned what you needed to because you have drive, newsflash many students don't find value in education itself (look at them paying kids in Atlanta). You are trying to take your positive situation and apply it to everyone which is no where close to the case.

Don't think the TAKS test is about knowing everything you should know. First of all it is the BASIC skills of a maximum of high school. Second although some material on the exit level test is 8th grade level, there is also material up until 10th grade. Trust me I know this, I actually teach and therefore know way too much about the TAKS tests throughout middle and high school.

I know you help out at an elementary school and that is great, but don't think that shows you enough to truly understand what is happening the the public education system, and all of its problems.

But Orphan, there could be mandatory 6-weeks testing and semester testing. As far as I know, all schools at least at the junior high and highschool level, give semester exams to test over the subject matter. This should be sufficent. I still think that the TAKS test wastes too much time in classes, especially in elementary. Believe me, I know more about this stupid test than you think. I have a little sister and this will be her second year of testing and they have been practicing for it since October. Why waste so much time on one test when the kids could be focusing more on their actual planned classwork.

And the thing about the teachers, yes I know that there is a shortage of great teachers right now (and I plan to help that because I'm am going to college to major in Education and become a teacher) and honestly it is still the school's fault for hiring the ones that don't do their jobs. If there is a bad teacher out there, they shouldn't be welcomed, they should have principals or aids in their rooms monitoring their work and helping them along. There is always another way to do things. The TAKS test, I still think, is a waste of time and can easily be replaced with mandated semester finals and six weeks testing.

If the teachers were doing their job those same high schoolers that can't pass a jr high test would not be there. no child should pass a grade just because they got a year older but the taks test is stressful on everyone involved. where are the parents responsibility in all this? i know kids in 3rd grade that have no idea what their address is. before my kids started kinder. they knew their address, telephone number and our real names not just "mom and dad". i think teachers work their tail off and need the support of the families not the interference of the taks test. we have laws that say a child can't miss so many days of school or cps and the law get involved..well call the law and cps..quit giving these horrible parents 5 the and 6 th chances in this and maybe they will take responsibilty for their own