This whimsical op-ed injects a much-needed dose of humor into the education debate in general and the assessment debate in particular. Author John Sener challenges the validity of standardized tests as the primary (and in many cases only) measure currently used to assess student learning. Because some states and districts have passed/are passing measures that link teacher pay to student performance on standardized tests, it is especially important to de-mystify this issue right now—to analyze it through farce, a bit removed from the frenzy of political rhetoric. Obviously, none of these issues are joking matters. But, in a time when education news is dominated by a "doom and gloom" narrative, Sener's tone is refreshing. In its powerfully tongue and cheek tone, this piece teases out the potential nonsense of the ever-increasing reliance on high-stakes testing.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/standardized-tests-prove-im-better-than-michael-jordan/2011/03/29/AF4sdL4C_story.html
What do you think?
Monday, April 25, 2011
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