General Discussion

ieoeja

(9,748 posts)

32. Teachers used to teach physics. Now they teach answers to problems.

Fri Nov 15, 2013, 12:00 PM

Nov 2013

You can pass the test without understanding the physics if you simply remember the answers to the specific questions that are on that test.

And you can't blame the teachers for this. This is now their job. Our politicians made it so. They have to be able to demonstrate to the voters that they are doing something. Improved test scores can do that.

Sure, American businesses are now complaining that entry-level Americans don't seem to know anything. While we dominated the world on most things prior to "reforming" education. But that isn't easy to measure. The test scores are.

So we are now teaching our kids to pass the test and fail in the world.

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When Parents Yank Their Kids Out of Standardized Tests [View all] xchrom Nov 2013 OP

"that tests are not reliable or valid measures of what students know," Bandit Nov 2013 #1

There is nothing. bemildred Nov 2013 #3

+1 xchrom Nov 2013 #4

Hey Princess, how are ya? bemildred Nov 2013 #5

fabulous and nostalgic. xchrom Nov 2013 #8

Well, on the whole. bemildred Nov 2013 #13

oh wow -- i love old matchbooks. xchrom Nov 2013 #14

Yes, I've always liked old things, old tools, old books, old pictures, old people. bemildred Nov 2013 #17

This is so true. JimboBillyBubbaBob Nov 2013 #23

Humans are not simple things, to be characterized by simple tests. bemildred Nov 2013 #27

+1 nt Sheri Nov 2013 #38

Is that a sincere question? LWolf Nov 2013 #11

wen i was young -- it wasn't until my sophomore and junior year in high school xchrom Nov 2013 #15

I have been so fortunate, LWolf Nov 2013 #59

Portfolios of work may be more reliable indicators. For example, pnwmom Nov 2013 #37

where we live in Tennessee d_r Nov 2013 #2

Sounds to me like they're using a lot of time taking tests LuvNewcastle Nov 2013 #12

yup d_r Nov 2013 #22

When a student opts out of the test, can she also opt out of the test prep? Jim__ Nov 2013 #6

+1. The testing days are a small part of the time wasted on this empy endeavor. winter is coming Nov 2013 #9

Wish America would adopt the Finnish way libodem Nov 2013 #7

Good for them. Those tests are a waste of time and money. LuvNewcastle Nov 2013 #10

I went to school in the 1950s and 60s frazzled Nov 2013 #16

Practice tests, analyzing trick questions, roody Nov 2013 #18

Can someone tell me what "teaching to the test" actually is? As opposed to teaching? AlbertCat Nov 2013 #19

I'm just saying I don't think that's possible frazzled Nov 2013 #21

Richard Feynmann illustrated this problem in his bio. ieoeja Nov 2013 #25

You haven't explained anything to me frazzled Nov 2013 #28

Teachers used to teach physics. Now they teach answers to problems. ieoeja Nov 2013 #32

No, they don't; you can't say that universally frazzled Nov 2013 #40

That seems to only becomes an issue it the test material is known... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #39

The vast majority of learning problems for a kid are out of the teacher's control. n/t ieoeja Nov 2013 #42

I don't see how this applies... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #43

from my ignorant perspective as an outsider, MattBaggins Nov 2013 #51

Before slinging insults, try debate. As an ignorant outsider I should be easy to defeat.... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #57

+1. jsr Nov 2013 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Nov 2013 #26

That's not testing's fault, it's values' fault frazzled Nov 2013 #30

The tests reinforce those "values" Scootaloo Nov 2013 #60

Instead of teaching them something new, first they do worksheets to prepare for the practice winter is coming Nov 2013 #55

Same here. Went to school in the 50's and 60's SheilaT Nov 2013 #34

now that it is they being measured, teachers are revolting. mopinko Nov 2013 #20

The teachers have always been measured, it was just done indirectly before. LuvNewcastle Nov 2013 #29

I like teachers. I have lots of them in my family. DisgustipatedinCA Nov 2013 #58

The testing story is a MAJOR story Renew Deal Nov 2013 #24

Ten years ago, this sort of awareness might have stopped NCLB. n/t Orsino Nov 2013 #31

dog and pony shows are for the circus lunasun Nov 2013 #33

this is how we take back our schools--and our government yurbud Nov 2013 #35

From what I have heard from my kids, the new tests lean more on word problems bhikkhu Nov 2013 #36

Common Core Assessment Myths and Realities: Moratorium Needed From More Tests, Costs, Stress xchrom Nov 2013 #41

Sounds like the tests MIGHT need to be improved... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #44

might? that's the least they could do. xchrom Nov 2013 #47

I imagine improvements are planned, but the testing cannot be scapped... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #53

Taking it out of the hands of the educators is the stupidest thing you can do MattBaggins Nov 2013 #52

Nonsense... Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #56

H.L. Mencken agrees with the teachers and parents. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2013 #45

I was so excited when they did this. It is great to see parents, teachers, and students stand liberal_at_heart Nov 2013 #46

Texas has paid the Pearson Co. TBF Nov 2013 #48

i hate to say this -- but some us are just good testers. xchrom Nov 2013 #49

I completely agree TBF Nov 2013 #50

I day dreamed through most of my classes and then got in the 90s MattBaggins Nov 2013 #54

i was pretty good at tests -- but i had a girl friend who skipped out on most of high school xchrom Nov 2013 #62

For-profit standardized testing industry can't be trusted jsr Nov 2013 #63

K&R Teachers at Seattle�s Garfield High School are heroes! B Calm Nov 2013 #64