I have 21 year old son who has a learning disability, during his grade school years he never passed the FCAT. He was in standard classes recieveing A's and B's....but he could not push his disabilty to pass that standerdized test. He is a hard workers and had excellent educators especially in middle and high school.....Long story short he graduated never passing the FCAT recieved a waiver. He earned a standard high school diploma, an associate degree and is a Junior at FSU. This all to say just because he didnt pass the FCAT does not mean his teachers should be blamed nor does it mean he did not work hard.....sometimes not being able to take test is just that. We must judge each educator and student indivually on their own merrit.
I am a special education teacher and my students are given the material from the FCAT in a modified version,because that is what their IEP's bind me to. We as educators can teach as much as the books allow, but the students are human and if they do not do well on a test that is so extremely nerve racking, then maybe we need to look at the tactics that we use to administer this test.All students are not good test takers and that should not merit how one is taught.It is so unfair to teachers and students alike.
Jack Rickman - 14 years ago
Few teachers would object to being rated based on the performance of their students when those students have put forth an effort to learn. As alarming as it may seem to parents and the public at large, as many as 20% of students DON'T DO THE WORK ASSIGNED. Yet they take the FCAT and other tests. and, of course, don't do well on them. In education today there is a mindset that "All students can learn." That's true...but all students aren't WILLING to learn. There are too many factors involved to use student progress as the deciding element in evaluating a teacher's ability. In a teaching career that spanned more than 20 years I met very few "bad" teachers. On the other hand, I've seen an increasing number of students whose work ethic is sadly lacking. It's time to stop blaming the teaachers and put the emphasis on making students responsible for their own education.
I have 21 year old son who has a learning disability, during his grade school years he never passed the FCAT. He was in standard classes recieveing A's and B's....but he could not push his disabilty to pass that standerdized test. He is a hard workers and had excellent educators especially in middle and high school.....Long story short he graduated never passing the FCAT recieved a waiver. He earned a standard high school diploma, an associate degree and is a Junior at FSU. This all to say just because he didnt pass the FCAT does not mean his teachers should be blamed nor does it mean he did not work hard.....sometimes not being able to take test is just that. We must judge each educator and student indivually on their own merrit.
I am a special education teacher and my students are given the material from the FCAT in a modified version,because that is what their IEP's bind me to. We as educators can teach as much as the books allow, but the students are human and if they do not do well on a test that is so extremely nerve racking, then maybe we need to look at the tactics that we use to administer this test.All students are not good test takers and that should not merit how one is taught.It is so unfair to teachers and students alike.
Few teachers would object to being rated based on the performance of their students when those students have put forth an effort to learn. As alarming as it may seem to parents and the public at large, as many as 20% of students DON'T DO THE WORK ASSIGNED. Yet they take the FCAT and other tests. and, of course, don't do well on them. In education today there is a mindset that "All students can learn." That's true...but all students aren't WILLING to learn. There are too many factors involved to use student progress as the deciding element in evaluating a teacher's ability. In a teaching career that spanned more than 20 years I met very few "bad" teachers. On the other hand, I've seen an increasing number of students whose work ethic is sadly lacking. It's time to stop blaming the teaachers and put the emphasis on making students responsible for their own education.