Why Are Teachers Against...?

Question

...competency testing for themselves and testing their students to see if they learned anything?

Answer 1

I am not a teacher, but I think some teachers are afraid that if there is a standardized competency test, they will be pressured to teach students just the questions on the test, rather than teaching the broad scope of the subject.

But for things like mathematics, where the subject matter is more standardized, I don't see where there should be a problem with it.

Answer 2

Because of these standardized tests teachers spend more time teaching the students how to take the test instead of teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. The students success on these tests determines the teachers success as a teacher. The simple fact is that all students are not good at taking standardized tests and many times the tests are designed by people who do not know what they are doing. For example, say a fifth grader is working a problem where he or she is supposed to tell what the perimeter of a given shape is. In the problem the measurements of the sides are given. What math skill is this problem measuring? Geometry you say? Wrong! The only thing that this question is measuring is the child's ability to add. The student does not have to know what parameter is to do the problem. The answer above is also correct. When a student is absent on the day a standardized test is given it effects the outcome of the total grades and makes the teacher look bad even though it is not their fault.

As for the teachers competency testing teachers already have to take the Praxis I & II, the GRE (if they have thier masters), and have to go through the ADEPT process while they are teachers. We are tested until we are tired of testing and then we have to test the students whose performance determines our success.

Answer 3

Because it wastes time that could be spent teaching/learning. Because it implies that failing students are the fault of teachers. Because students who fail do so for many reasons that a test will not reveal. Because frequent, repetitive testing twists education into something one does in order to pass the test. Because a test has limits as to what it measures. Because when you fall into the trap of thinking that a test is the only measurement of success, you ignore other ways of being successful. Because some people want to use the tests to track people, promote people, reward people, and fire people when it is a very narrow way of assessing anything. Because the person writing or grading the test may have a different outlook and biases, and may use the test to his own motives.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Answer 4

We're only against tests that are too broad to be truly accurate. Standardized tests are like courtroom scene on TV where the lawyer says to the person on the stand, just answer the question, please. And the audience knows there's a whole other side to the story.

Written exams, participation, performance, projects, portfolios, and art are all great ways you can tell me what you know. You can answer the question, give me details, and show me how brilliant you are. There is no end to what a mind is capable of retaining.

A multiple choice test is a great way to find out what you do NOT know. Standardized tests are full of multiple choice questions. Get it?

Teacher performance is measured by how well our students perform on a standardized tests. If a student does poorly, the numbers look bad for the teacher. There's no accouning for any of the following :
the one who is sick
the one whose home life is affecting performance
the one who doesn't try
the one who is afraid of a bully
the one who is having girl/boyfriend problems
that time of the month
the one who could not sleep last night
the one who is nervous about the test and draws a blank
the one who lost the football game and just feels lousy
the one who is contemplating suicide
the one whose dad is getting out of prison
the one who worked late at the grocery store and is too tired

Answer 5

I think most of us aren't. I took two competency tests before getting certified. I also give my first graders a post assessment test in math and language arts every 9 weeks.
The Criterion Reference Test is given to them every Spring. I even have my scores posted in the hallway of our school. It doesn't bother me because I teach my heart out everday and it shows. I had one ESL student go from a 19 on the pre-test in Language arts to a 71 on the post test in about 7 weeks. She's a good student but she also has a good teacher, me.

Answer 6

I took a test to get into college. I took a test to get into Graduate School. I have taken two tests related to my certification for my content area. I have taken Oral Comps to get my Masters Degree. I feel I am competent to do my job. Do not continue to test me. My students are tested entirely too much. I have 8th graders and their grade particularly feels the brunt of competency testing. I am not against a test to measure a student's ability. I do feel as if we have gone overboard in doing so.

Answer 7

Why should competency testing be limited to teachers? Why not test everyone regardless of their job?

Answer 8

They're not if the tests are valid.