Wednesday's Welcome is my little Cameron!!! Here he is sick and staying home today. This is a critical week here in Georgia it's CRCT week. For those of you who don't know it's part of the whole No Child Left Behind Act passed by the Bush administration (see Jan 9th post I was complaining then;) All the kids from 1st to 8th grade take this test. However, 3rd, 5th and 8th grades are the tests that count and they will not move on to the next grade if they don't pass this text.They have been pumping this CRCT all year; they even had a CRCT pep rally last week! It's just way over the top to me all the pressure the system puts on our little ones is to much. The test started yesterday and Cameron woke up with a massive headache! Why, because I think my 8 year old child is stressed out at the whole process. He is not a test taker, some kids just aren't and they've talked about it so much I'm stressed thinking about it!!! I'm keeping him home for the rest of this week and he will test next week when it's not so insane:) What do you guys think about this No Child Left Behind Act?
11 comments:
Aw, little pumpkin looks so sweet! Mr. Pettybicker is going to get you for putting his son to sleep in his sisters Hello Kitty blanket! LOL!
LOL:) I needed this laugh right now thanks:) It's been a long day!!!
NOt sure about that particular act but here in the UK they start standardised Assessment Tests at the age of 6/7 and test every few years. As a parent I hate the thought of these tests and as a teacher I hate them even more. So many of us are told (not overtly, mind) to teach the test to ensure results and the results you get at 7, 11 etc follow you through school SAT's don't account for children developing, cognitively, at different rates. My teaching union are urging us to boycott the tests next year, in order to make it impossibe for them to be carried out...I hope it comes off; my daughter begins tests next year.
Bless his heart. In Florida, it's called the FCAT and we hear the same uproar and dissatisfaction. It's a shame and I truly believe Cameron is proof of the excessive and unnecessary stress on children. I'm so happy you're keeping him out of school. The test can wait! Good choice, Mama!
Thanks Momsweb:) Katherine BOYCOTT!!! Everyone that I know teachers and parents want to put an end to this un-productive, stressing our kids and teachers out, useless testing system! Maybe we can do a "Leave the Tests Behind" boycott!!!
This isn't a comment directly to this blog post, but I just wanted to say HI! Thanks so much for the comment on my blog! I look forward to "getting to know you" through your blog, and am always thankful for pregnancy advice, as this is my first time!
I hope you have a wonderful day!
This comment IS directed at your blog post--as a guidance counselor for grades 7-12 in NY, I think that kids are way over-tested. I do see the need for some tests because that's what helps us determine what kinds of help some of them need, but these poor kids take test after test after test, and I feel so bad for them! I hope your little guy feels better soon!
Wow, Circular Logic and hello:) I loved your story and thanks for writing back:) Yes I agree they need to have some tests to see where they are and what they need to improve on. They actually have a test for that in Sept and Jan it's called the ITBS. They are testing our kids to death and enough is enough! Thanks my little man was up an about and not even thinking about that CRCT this morning. I think he was ready for a mommy break:)
Our whole educational system is skewed.
It attempts to eradicate childhood.
Go into any elementary school and simply listen to the teachers: "What are we working on this morning?"..... "Why aren't you working?"..... "Good work!"......
"Let's get to work!"...... "Start working now." "Is that your work?"....."Get out your workbooks.." ...."For homework....."
Everybody knows children PLAY. And we know that most children worldwide play in gender and age-mixed groups. It's unrestricted spontaneous play that defines childhood, not the BS of a system originally devised to train Prussians to be soldiers.
If you want to read the best understanding of how children ought to be treated by an educational system, read Summerhill by A. S. Neill. It's been re-issued I think.
Hope your son feels better. You might try a homeopathic remedy called Pulsatilla---same thing given for teething in infants. It's calming. And inexpensive and safe.
Oh bless his heart. I am not a fan of standardized testing.
Thanks RC for your feedback and remedy, I will try both:)
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