[CALIBK12] Educate students, don't just test them

[Stephen Krashen]

Sent to the Ventura County Star, March 5, 2009

Recent cuts in the budgets of school districts throughout the state are tragic, because they hurt programs known to be effective. At the same time, the state continues to spend millions on budget items that have been demonstrated to be ineffective. 

For example, several districts in the Ventura County, including Conejo Valley and Oak Park, are eliminating many of their school librarians. Studies consistently show that the presence of a credentialed librarian as well as library quality and staffing are positively related to reading scores. 

In contrast, the state of California continues to insist on a High School Exit Exam, although research consistently shows that these kinds of exams are of no benefit, and also requires high-stakes standardized tests for second graders. No Child Left Behind does not require testing second graders, and there is no evidence that second grade testing does anybody any good, except test publishers. The California Teachers Association and Senator Loni Hancock have just introduced legislation to eliminate the grade two examination.

Eliminating these tests would allow districts to continue with at least some of the programs that educate students, not just test them. 

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California