Staaar Test

[Livin'2hunt]

My wife works as an administrator at an elementary school. She told me the test that the 3rd graders take is the equivalent of a test we would have taken in junior high when we were kids(in the 80s). So yeah, it is harder than it used to be.

As a society, we hamstring our teachers and allow curriculum to be dumbed down to a point they can do little more than gloss over highlighted topics. Then, the kids are expected to do well on these standardized tests. Yeah, right.

My son is in 7th grade. Until this year, he spent his entire schooling career in public schools. Supposedly, great ones. He can barely spell his own name (I exaggerate, of course) and now he's in a charter school and it too is terrible. He has no concept of history. None at all. We are cultivating a bunch of future takers and few makers. It is pathetic but we're getting what we voted for.

[stinkbelly]

I told my boys if they worked the animals hard yesterday I wouldn't make them study for the test last night. They worked their butts off. When we got home my youngest said "Did we work hard enough". I said yes and they didn't have to study. The funny thing is that I wasn't going to make them study anyways.

[Grant2]

I wish this test would go away. I have never seen kids so nervous to take a test that's pointless!!

[Hornet Hunter]

Does SPED stand for Special Ed? And why cant a child attend a 4 yr university? Doesn't make sense.

If you accept participation instead of passing the test, then you graduate on the foundation plan. That foundation plan is what limits you from attending a 4 year university.

And yes SPED is special education

[Livin'2hunt]

Let me share a little insight. You are correct in the statement "I opted my kid out". But the school did not opt your kid out. The school gets a failure for your kid not taking the test. When you are absent, you must be there for the retake. If you do not take it then the school must report it as did not take. You guessed it, that's a failure for the school. Take my school for instance, we got hammered on the tapr report for not enough students taking the TSI test. TTESS, the new evaluation system for teachers says that their students pass/fail ratings effect their evaluation and employment. SOOO when you thumb your nose at this test, you are cutting the throat of your schools. Schools get hit on PBMAS, TELPAS, OCR, over rep of SPED, over rep of Hispanic, too many low socio eco students, not enough students meeting level III passing, and the list goes on and on. We have been set up to fail. The powers that be have created a flawed system and now want that system to fail. They are offering vouchers as the answer to fix the problem. So let's send our students to a private school system that doesn't have to follow any rules after breaking a good public school system by putting in too many rules!!!!!!!!!!!! It makes NO sense to me.

Jamie Smart
Principal for 12 years.

I have no problem thumbing my nose at schools with the watered down curriculum taught today. I'd rather they be held accountable and closed if necessary. They do not deserve the money and that's what this is ALL about. My oldest daughter made straight A's through high school. She went to college and had to spend a year in remedial classes just to learn material she was never taught in High School...but she made all A's. I never made all A's, not one time and when I graduated HS, my base of knowledge was profoundly greater than hers. They don't even discuss current events like the war (then in Iraq) or 9-11. My kids have what I would equate to a 3rd grade education with the exception of mathematics. When we're discussing a captive audience, that is unacceptable.

[Hornet Hunter]

I have no problem thumbing my nose at schools with the watered down curriculum taught today. I'd rather they be held accountable and closed if necessary. They do not deserve the money and that's what this is ALL about. My oldest daughter made straight A's through high school. She went to college and had to spend a year in remedial classes just to learn material she was never taught in High School...but she made all A's. I never made all A's, not one time and when I graduated HS, my base of knowledge was profoundly greater than hers. They don't even discuss current events like the war (then in Iraq) or 9-11. My kids have what I would equate to a 3rd grade education with the exception of mathematics. When we're discussing a captive audience, that is unacceptable.

I couldn't agree with you more. Do you know who writes the curriculum? It's not the schools. Schools must follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills other wise known as TEKS. Students must be able to do what the TEKS say. The TEKS or Standards must be followed because that is what is tested. It seems there is not enough time in the day or in the school year to be able to do the wild flower walks or show and tell anymore. It is a vicious cycle.

[BrandonA]

I couldn't agree with you more. Do you know who writes the curriculum? It's not the schools. Schools must follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills other wise known as TEKS. Students must be able to do what the TEKS say. The TEKS or Standards must be followed because that is what is tested. It seems there is not enough time in the day or in the school year to be able to do the wild flower walks or show and tell anymore. It is a vicious cycle.

Is there any chance that they scrape this **** hole of a test and go back to the basics.

[Hornet Hunter]

Is there any chance that they scrape this **** hole of a test and go back to the basics.

All we can do is hope. I'm all for accountability. What goes unmonitored goes undone. But I agree that something else needs to be done.

[Livin'2hunt]

I couldn't agree with you more. Do you know who writes the curriculum? It's not the schools. Schools must follow the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills other wise known as TEKS. Students must be able to do what the TEKS say. The TEKS or Standards must be followed because that is what is tested. It seems there is not enough time in the day or in the school year to be able to do the wild flower walks or show and tell anymore. It is a vicious cycle.

I was not aware of the writers of the curriculum so, thanks for that. The problem is, some schools are teaching to this test and to this test only. If it isn't on the test, the kids never hear of it, thereby occupying much of their day with knowledge that is many times irrelevant. This is my kids' experiences and those of some close friends. I know many teachers who are disenchanted with the whole situation and "vicious cycle" is certainly an apt description.

[Hornet Hunter]

If we want this to change, we must let voices be heard in Austin. Call you reps and senators. Many are already doing so. Of course teachers teach to the test. Their livelihood depends on it.

[jmeghunts]

If we want this to change, we must let voices be heard in Austin. Call you reps and senators. Many are already doing so. Of course teachers teach to the test. Their livelihood depends on it.

So is a better option to give a test in September, grade it on campus, then teach to the kids deficiencies? Maybe set some goals early in the year instead playing the "gotcha" game with out teachers.

[RiverRat00]

I opted my son out of taking the star...

I didn't know you had an option??

[Pilgrim]

State mandated test are so stupid.

I guess that is why they can miss half the questions and still pass the test

Test results are in! Looks like it took a 39 to pass for sixth grade math. These tests, and our current educational standards, are indeed a joke. We continue to pass out participation trophies and then wonder why we have so many in our society that think they are entitled to something. SMDH