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

[Leslie Caldarera]

On Monday, March 16th, there will be a union action in Sacramento to
encourage to stop cuts to education. I am riding the bus from Los Angeles
which leaves Sunday night.  I'll be there, will you? 
Leslie Caldarera, Teacher Librarian
Edison Middle School
Los Angeles Unified 

-----Original Message-----
From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
[mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Stephen Krashen
Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 10:17 PM
To: calibk12 at lists.sjsu.edu
Subject: [CALIBK12] Educate students, don't just test them


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



      

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