Standardized testing an instrument of stress and torture

Here comes another standardized testing season with all the administrator anxiety, teacher turmoil and student disaffection. So much of it that, at least in high schools, those mass assessments do as much to measure student alienation and boredom as academic ability.

Yet these instruments of stress and torture have been the lifeblood of educational policy, which is why their worst aspect is the inexplicable emphasis on just two subjects, sometimes at the expense of everything else.

I do not mean to question the importance of math or English (which is the subject I teach). Numerical and linguistic literacy are survival skills. Fluency and mastery are paths to professional success in many fields.

Yet how are science and history, government, economics, non-English languages and the arts not equally important to students’ long-term success and well-being and to the well-being – and survival – of the human race?

In an increasingly connected world, don’t we want to ensure that our children can speak more than one language? We actually do a pretty decent job helping children from other countries

Despite challenges, America’s best days still ahead

It’s no big secret that the election that is quickly approaching is an election not many Americans — and for that matter, global humanity — is looking forward to. On one side, a twice-impeached former president, who is staring at over 90 felony charges, ranging from tampering with state election officials in Georgia, to the case in Washington D.C. related to the accusation that he played an outsized role with the Jan. 6 attacks, to even something as small as hush money payments in New York that potentially violated campaign finance laws.

The impacts of Donald Trump, his movement, and his rhetoric will be felt for generations to come, both for the better and for the worst.

On the other hand, a beleaguered incumbent, over the age of 83 years old, having to contend with a country that hasn’t seen such divisions since the Civil War, and on top of that a foreign policy that increasingly is being ridiculed both at home and abroad. While Joe Biden has made a number of critical mistakes, such as his lack of public facing interviews, and refusal to recognize that public opinion on topics like Israel will create issues during the fall campaign, it is important to remember it’s highly unlikely that a President Donald Trump would have done much better at dealing with these crises. In layman’s terms, these things are structural. But if there’s one thing I still believe in, it’s the promise of America and what each one of us can achieve. Regardless of your political inclinations, I am truly confident that our best days are indeed still ahead of us, not behind us.

Trey Swaggart, Springfield

Corporal punishment taught older generations respect

A recent graduate of Central High School (Class of 2023) states corporal punishment is a snake oil remedy that learn English – for which they are regularly tested – but a shamefully inadequate job helping U.S.-born students to achieve fluency in other languages.

Thanks to a massive push to improve STEM in our schools, science education, despite not being universally tested, has received increasing support pretty much everywhere – but it hasn’t been enough to prevent a large segment of our population from thinking that the Earth is flat, that science is a belief system and that climate change is liberal propaganda.

With democracy under attack and an epidemic of civic ignorance, deprioritizing social studies education is a perilous proposition.

And in the midst of a teenage mental health crisis, we would be wise to marshal our resources for arts education.

I wonder whether those who make education policy – who mandate these tests and then crush us with the data they produce – are aware of what happens in schools and how resources are allocated to subjects for which students will not be tested and administrators will not be judged.

“Data-driven” decision-making it’s called – and is supposed to compel us to “data-driven” instruction. If teachers aren’t at least a little subversive, such philosophy can drain the life out of teaching and learning and replace any vision a school might have with the simple and cynical goal of raising state test

Preference is given to brief (under 300 words), direct letters. We verify submissions, so include name, address and phone number. Email submissions to letters@news-leader.com. The News-Leader reserves the right to edit submissions for potential libel, accuracy, objectionable content, clarity, civility and length. Letters must provide sources for specific data. disrespects students and faculty. Sophia Leonard quotes psychological studies that state corporal punishment causes mental problems and it is not necessarily effective. Those of us who grew up with parents who practiced corporal punishment disagree with your viewpoints.

You are too young to understand the value system which we experienced. Our parents made it clear that if we caused trouble at school that called for corporal punishment then we could face the same consequences possibly at home. We were taught to respect teachers, principals, police, firemen, and people older than us. We dressed in our best clothes to go to school. We said yes, sir, and no, sir to those older than us. We didn’t call people older than us by their first names. We didn’t eat in classrooms. There were no school shootings. We want you to have respect for elders, behave in class, and learn. Is that too much to ask? We had it. Yes, it was abused by some educators and school administrators. It appears behavior is worse today under the present circumstances. What changed?

We are not asking to turn back the clock. As parents and grandparents, we have failed you and future generations. We are searching for answers. Forgive us for implying those days and ways were better. We want you to have peace of mind, the opportunity to learn, and scores in math and English.

To be clear, many colleagues of mine – across the country – are doing spectacular work teaching science and social studies, foreign language and the arts (along with math and English) but they are often accomplishing this despite the grim cynicism of the data drive and the misguided focus on those two subjects.

Am I suggesting we ought to add more standardized tests to include every vital subject we try to teach? No.

We need less testing! We need to rethink our entire approach to measuring student learning and the effectiveness of teachers and schools. Let’s take those measurements every day and let’s do it in a way that doesn’t obstruct us. We have the technology to do that.

In most schools, students submit their work through an internet platform. Let’s have outside evaluators sample student work at random to measure progress. Take the science of political polling and apply it to evaluating students, teachers and schools. It will be imperfect but better than the current mess.

Evaluators can start with my classroom. Read what my students are writing. Look at all the ways in which my students demonstrate learning. Then let’s have a conversation about it – not, as is now the practice, an accusation based on often inaccurate numbers.

How did we even get here: a system built around suspicion and mistrust in the assurance of safety at school we had. If that means we use corporal punishment to achieve that, why not?

Instead of dismissing the wisdom we have gained from our experiences, why not sit down and listen? We will listen to your feedback. No, school is different in some ways, but human behavior is the same. We had bullies, we had suicides, we had students with mental issues, and we had students who were in the closet. Yet, we had something you haven’t had. We want you to have it too.

Roy Pearson, Springfield

Vote for ability, not billboards, in Springfield school board election

Yard signs can be bought and paid for, but you can’t buy leadership, integrity and experience. That’s why I encourage you to vote for Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise and Susan Provance for the Springfield R-12 Board of Education.

Ms. Kincaid has demonstrated stellar leadership on the board, Mr. Crise is a man of unquestioned integrity and board service and Ms. Provance exudes needed experience.

Your vote is important to ensure support for our students, staff, schools and community. Vote for leadership, integrity and experience — Danielle Kincaid, Scott Crise and Susan Provance on April 2. Paid for by nobody!

Morey Mechlin, Springfield

Pastors have no place in school board election

The recent piece about pastors who are concerned about the Springfield school board election prompted me to reply. I am a religious person who regularly attends a Christian church but this group is way off-base, in my opinion.

I am sure pastors Morrow and Bryant are good men who want the best for their communities, but they are not residents of Springfield and and should not be involved in a non-partisan election or a local school election. I’m concerned about discipline too, but the intervention the ability or commitment of teachers and the administrators who are supposed to support them?

How about instead we begin with the premise that every student wants to learn – which is ultimately true, whether they can marshal any effort on a given day (or in a given year) – and that teachers want passionately to see our students succeed.

Take a real interest in what we are doing together in our classrooms. And, please, let’s blow up the hierarchy of academic disciplines. No subject is more important than another.

Education is a continuum. And learning is contagious.

We can’t teach our students everything they will need to know. Even so, if we teach them how to learn, and teach them to love learning, value knowledge and aspire to be clear and deep thinkers – who can read and listen with an open mind and heart and just enough skepticism to demand and detect reliable and verifiable evidence – then they might have a realistic hope of personal success and collective survival.

Despite the hideous mess we’ve created for them.

Larry Strauss, a high school English teacher in South Los Angeles since 1992, is the author of more than a dozen books, including “Students First and Other Lies: Straight Talk From a Veteran Teacher” and his new novel, “Light Man.”

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS POLICY

of conservative Christian churches, or any other for that matter, is not needed in this type of election. And to suggest it’s a battle between good and evil is outrageous.

The Bible is a great book that offers good suggestions for living a good and fulfilling life but it was written in a very different time period with different needs than today. For example, Mr. Morrow is concerned about gender identity. Others in his group likely don’t support ordination of women. One can find support for both of these views in the Bible. But one can also find passages condoning slavery and banning women from their house when their period occurs.

I will support and vote for people who are experienced teachers, rational thinkers, and those who might look for practical solutions to problems rather than religious ones. There’s a place for religious conservatives in our society but not in running our schools.

John Melton, Springfield

Makoski wrong to target ‘safe space’ stickers

A safe space allows the free exchange of thoughts without the risk of persecution. A safe space gives students a feeling of belonging, especially among minorities and historically oppressed groups. Every room should be a safe space. Many kids need to feel safe to tell an adult about being bullied or being called names. Kids can’t learn if they don’t feel safe. Stickers are essential for students to know that they are not alone and matter, just like how they are made.

Steve Makoski supports Chad Rollins, Landon McCarter, and incumbent Maryam Mohammadkhani. Members of the local MSTA chapter of the Missouri State Teachers Association have voted to endorse three candidates in the April 2 school board race. This group has backed incumbent Danielle Kincaid and first-time candidates Susan Provance and Kyler Sherman-Wilkins. Let’s not let Rollins, McCarter or Mohammadkhani in charge of our schools.

Sue Nevatt, Springfield