It is all about testing. The test publishers are getting richer, while controlling the curriculum. They prepare the tests and the test preparation materials.
They decide what shall be taught, thus what shall be tested.
There is no time for mastery of the skills. There is no time for review of the skills. There is no time for remediation of the skills. A skill is taught for one to three days; there is one homework assignment and then they must move on following the pacing plan that follows the publisher’s textbook. There is insufficient practice in the textbooks, workbooks, and photocopied sheets provided by the publishers.
Is the goal of education today to improve test scores or to generate a dumbed down generation?
Is the goal of education today to provide an education for the students’ future or to enrich the owners of the for profit charter and online schools.
Is the goal of education today to prepare the students for life and college or just to see that they graduate high school?
Once upon a time, not so long ago, public education produced thinkers not test takers, leaders not followers, students not robots, creativity not docility; students with a bright future; students to lead our country and the world.
Now, production is limited and the model has been destroyed.
Editors note: Parents can opt their children out of state mandated standardized tests “by writing a note to the school administrators citing California Ed Code 60615: ‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a parent’s or guardian’s written request to school officials to excuse his or her child from any or all parts of the assessments administered pursuant to this chapter shall be granted.”