Comments for CarolineC's whereIstand Blog http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec Just another blogs.whereistand.com weblog Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:32:56 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Flat on the View by John Smith http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/12#comment-7 John Smith Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:32:56 +0000 #comment-7 I found your blog via Google while searching for discount air travel and your post regarding Flat on the View looks very interesting for me I found your blog via Google while searching for discount air travel and your post regarding Flat on the View looks very interesting for me

]]> Comment on About by Mr WordPress http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/about#comment-1 Mr WordPress Fri, 02 Nov 2007 22:10:23 +0000 #comment-1 Hi, this is a comment.<br />To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts' comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them. Hi, this is a comment.
To delete a comment, just log in, and view the posts’ comments, there you will have the option to edit or delete them.

]]> Comment on No Child Left Behind? by CarolineC http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/4#comment-6 CarolineC Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 #comment-6 you make good points, but I think when you say that "I don't think anyone intelligent would read the stats regarding lower-performance levels of these students and assume it has something to do with those students' level of learning or intelligence" you are wrong, and that is the problem.  What standardized tests do is just that: standardize--as in, look away from what makes each school different, excel, or struggle, and instead place them on an equal field before the assessment.  And that is not fair.  Then schools and the teachers are held accountable for the tests and worry about that instead of focusing on the initial problem.<br /> <br /> I do agree though that technically, if the students are learning, then they should do well on the tests.  And you are right, math is math, english english, etc.  so why do they need to "teach the tests?" if they just teach correctly?  Well, because once a school does poorly ONE time on the state test, often the adminstrators of that school step in to each classroom and require that the day be filled with test taking preparation.  That is what happened at my school.  Since history is not tested, they removed it from the curriculum and literally, teachers were forced to give students tests (like actual, here, fill in the bubble tests) for a large percentage of the day.  <br /> <br /> And taking tests in English doesn't ensure learning OF English.  I mean, if you don't get time to go to ESL, then taking an english test 300 times doesn't make the words any less understandable.  <br /> But I do see your point in a lot of ways, it sort of becomes a horrible cycle....because tests aren't inherently bad I don't think, its just become that way. you make good points, but I think when you say that "I don’t think anyone intelligent would read the stats regarding lower-performance levels of these students and assume it has something to do with those students’ level of learning or intelligence" you are wrong, and that is the problem.  What standardized tests do is just that: standardize–as in, look away from what makes each school different, excel, or struggle, and instead place them on an equal field before the assessment.  And that is not fair.  Then schools and the teachers are held accountable for the tests and worry about that instead of focusing on the initial problem.

I do agree though that technically, if the students are learning, then they should do well on the tests.  And you are right, math is math, english english, etc.  so why do they need to "teach the tests?" if they just teach correctly?  Well, because once a school does poorly ONE time on the state test, often the adminstrators of that school step in to each classroom and require that the day be filled with test taking preparation.  That is what happened at my school.  Since history is not tested, they removed it from the curriculum and literally, teachers were forced to give students tests (like actual, here, fill in the bubble tests) for a large percentage of the day. 

And taking tests in English doesn’t ensure learning OF English.  I mean, if you don’t get time to go to ESL, then taking an english test 300 times doesn’t make the words any less understandable. 
But I do see your point in a lot of ways, it sort of becomes a horrible cycle….because tests aren’t inherently bad I don’t think, its just become that way.

]]> Comment on It Can’t be Black or White by Paul http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/14#comment-5 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 #comment-5 Yes, this is too bad.  Maybe this black-white situation runs in cycles and we are in a particularly bad one.  I don't know--purely speculation. Yes, this is too bad.  Maybe this black-white situation runs in cycles and we are in a particularly bad one.  I don’t know–purely speculation.

]]> Comment on Is Man Infallible? by Paul http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/9#comment-4 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 #comment-4 You're right, I venture to guess that most people would never think man is infallible.  All you need to do is watch your locals news at night and you can figure that one out. You’re right, I venture to guess that most people would never think man is infallible.  All you need to do is watch your locals news at night and you can figure that one out.

]]> Comment on Role Models? Depends on their Role. by Paul http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/5#comment-3 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 #comment-3 Obligation may be a strong word, but I do believe celebrities have a responsibility to give back to society.  What they have been given should be returned in someway.  The problem is that we live in a 'me' society.  Thankfully, there are celebrities who aren't all about me.  Obligation may be a strong word, but I do believe celebrities have a responsibility to give back to society.  What they have been given should be returned in someway.  The problem is that we live in a ‘me’ society.  Thankfully, there are celebrities who aren’t all about me. 

]]> Comment on No Child Left Behind? by Paul http://blogs.whereistand.com/carolinec/4#comment-2 Paul Wed, 31 Dec 1969 19:00:00 +0000 #comment-2 You make interesting points.  I agree that standarized tests aren't always the measure of learning.  I am an example.  I struggled with these tests, but ended up earning a master's degree.  I always hated taking those things too. You make interesting points.  I agree that standarized tests aren’t always the measure of learning.  I am an example.  I struggled with these tests, but ended up earning a master’s degree.  I always hated taking those things too.

]]>