Florida FCAT Tests

Once again the Florida schools have stumbled through the 2006-07 school year to make it to the FCAT finale. I am not surprised that 49% of the students did not pass the reading section. Almost every newspaper and television broadcast shows the results to be worse than last year. Over half of 8th graders did not even score grade level. The same was for the 10th graders.

I feel that it is necessary to check the level of progress made by our students. However, to subject them to the stress and pressure of these tests is totally insane. Each year a curriculum is set for the teachers to make sure their students receive passing grades on these standard tests. Varying from this guideline can cause much hardship for the students and the teacher. As the testing dates draw closer, more pressure is put on the children to learn everything they can that may be on the test. Why?

Here's a thought. Teach these kids phonics, which is not taught in any of the Florida public school systems. That way they know how to read. Once they can read, they can be taught how to comprehend. Have you ever seen a child who hates to read? It is usually because they have no understanding of what they are reading. A child who can read at grade level, usually has no problems with understanding the text.

My children have been subjected to this testing standard for two years now. They can tell you what is necessary to get past the test. They can not tell you what they learned this year in most of their other subjects. This is sad. What about science or history? These subjects are just as fundamental as reading and math. Try getting into a good college without biology or chemistry.

I may not have an answer for the problems facing Florida schools, but when I get a letter from my children's school stating that 59 out of 59 school districts failed the national standards for state testing, I feel someone owes it to these kids to find out why. I thought we had a "No Child Left Behind" motto. It is my opinion, that if a school teaches what a child needs to make it in the world of business and finance, there would be no problems. Before we penalize the kids for not doing well on the FCAT's, make sure it is not the school system that is letting them down.

I do not feel it is appropriate for teachers to be offered incentives and bonuses for getting their classes to pass the test. Kids don't need the pressure of some teacher wanting his/her bonus pay. I know of one teacher that pushed my niece's class so hard, she actually had a student throw up before the test began. What is that teaching these kids? Pay a teacher what they deserve, not what they think is owed to them.

Don't get me wrong. I feel any sane person who can put up with 30 screaming kids on a daily basis needs a great deal of respect. Yet the teacher must, also, feel overwhelmed with pressure when it is testing time. These results are broke down by school, grade, and classroom. Everyone knows who did what.

Even though I feel it is necessary to keep up with how my child is learning, isn't that what a report card is for? If you want to keep better track, break it into 6 week semesters instead of 9. That way, no child is left behind.