Sorry to let you down kiddies, but we are forcing you to take a test in a language that you do not speak fluently. This is the message that we are sending to current students that are being forced to take the ISAT's or PSAE's in a language that they are not completely fluent. I take serious issue with this. Here is a little summation from the Chicago Tribune that will help fill in the blanks if you do not understand what I am describing. How can we say that we are keeping the best interest of the students in mind if we are putting them at a distinct disadvantage by requiring them to take a test in a language in which they are not fully literate?
The PSAE's and ISAT's are tests that are used to gauge progress under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act that help fund schools. If a school does not reach their Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) they will have there funding cut since they are not reaching levels that are in part determined by the tests that I have described. It is totally insane to test students for proficiency in math, science, history and other subjects when they cannot read the test. If we are looking to find out how a student has progressed, we should give them a fair shot. Would anyone in their right mind expect me to go to China take a test in Chinese? We all know that NCLB is a farce, but this decision by the Board of Education is totally unfair. Sorry if this sounds like a rant, but I am very passionate about this topic.
3 comments:
I have to disagree with you on the major point here.
While I do agree that most standardized testing is horribly underdeveloped (due to a unilateral approach that is not forgiving for, and to, unique individual abilities) and subsequently leaves a strong majority at a disadvantage, the bottom line is that the National language is English. If you were to study abroad in China... you would be taking tests in Chinese. To expect favoritism of this nature is a gross undermining of our great Nation. We are a melting pot of both peoples and cultures, yet we are unified in some basic areas. Language is one of those areas.
There is no way to expect that every possible language should be allowed for translated testing.
As an example, there's a fairly sizable amount of students here in Bloomington that are from the Congo... are you suggesting that tests be made available in Swahili and French as a result?
Or that students that move here from Europe should have tests that are converted to Metric increments as opposed to our traditionally applied English system?
To go down this path would be dangerous and ill-advised, as the potential would exist to have no end.
Just to let you know, we have not national language. 22 states have ratified English as the official language of the state, but as a nation, we do not have an official language.
Also, these tests are designed to test there abilities such as math, science, writing and comprehension, not their ability to read English. I am fine with having a student take a test in French if it gives us an understanding of how they are progressing in their core classes. This is not favoritism, it is serving our students to the fullest.
I'm not going to try to sandwich this response with pleasantries. I respect and love you - that you should already know. So, on to the substance...
If writing and comprehension are presented in English, then isn't reading English also part of the core? If you have to write in English then you should have to be able to read it too, right? The classes aren't taught in anything other than English, right? So there should be no reason that there should be a writing test in anything other than English.
There are almost 7,000 recognized languages in the World. Should it be expected that every class, in every city, in every State have copies of standardized tests in each of these 7,000 languages? Answering yes to that would be absurd, as I'm sure you wold agree. But if you answer no, then where do you make the cut-off? And how is that any different?
I can remember having 'Foreign Languages' offered as possible classes when I was in school - I don't ever remember seeing English listed as a Foreign Language. I realize that in the present day there are ESL courses available, but that means English as a Second Language (ESL), not Foreign Language 101 - English.
I realize we have no formally recognized National language. I was making a generalization - sorry that I did not clarify, and thank you for pointing out that my post read as wrong. However... Illinois does have a State language. It is English. Illinois ratified in 1969. You teach in Illinois. There's not really an argument to be made there.
I think you are just going to have to deal with this one my friend.
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