Pet Peeve Alert ... STATE TESTING

OK, I am the first to admit that I am WAAAYYYY over the top on this issue, but our kids are in the middle of state testing this week and next and I am so frustrated that I actually had a "fit" (yes, I raised my voice and expressed my anger) with our vice-principal. While I try very hard to control my temper, this state testing issue has pushed me beyond the limits ... and now I will vent!

I am simply stunned by the absurd attitude that has overtaken our elementary school regarding the state tests. First, because of scheduling issues beyond our control, the testing is almost three weeks earlier than usual this year. You would think, however, that the testing is 6 months earlier than usual based on the frantic, almost manic, cramming that is going on in the classrooms. Beachboy came home MONDAY (math test started Wednesday) with a brand new way of executing multiplication of 2 places and 3 places which he had never seen before and was told by his teacher: "this is the only way you can show multiplication on the state test". HELLLOOOO, are you kidding me? My response: "Beachboy, we will do this worksheet for homework, then you can forget this method until after state testing is done and we will go back to this method so that you understand what it is". His math teacher was furious with me, but I calmly explained that Beachboy could not change his methodology at this late date and I did not expect him to. [Mind you, I have been working with my son on my own based on state standards so that he would be prepared for the upcoming math topics, which his teacher, unfortunately, has not been doing].

Issue #2: we received a phone call Sunday Night from the school system "reminding us" that state testing was starting this week and we needed to make sure our children got plenty of sleep this week and ate a nutritious breakfast every morning because these tests are so important. IMPORTANT TO WHOM????? It does not affect my son or daughter's education ... as a matter of fact, if the school did poorly maybe the school would go back to teaching the basics which we parents have been screaming for for the last few years! Shouldn't our students be getting plenty of sleep and eating a great breakfast every morning that they go to school? And why does the school provide free breakfast only during state testing? Why not all year long?

I have begged, pleaded, volunteered and everything else I can think of to energize our administration and teachers to accept that they are responsible for the education of an entire generation of students. The students in their classrooms this year will only be there for one year, so no matter how tired they may be, or how tired they are of the material they are teaching, they owe it to our students to be the best teachers they can possibly be. I still get excuses and complaints on a regular basis...never, concrete answers or suggestions on how we can move our program forward and deal with our excelling students as well as those who are lagging behind. But believe me, the stress and pressure is on the kids right now ... "you had better get a 4 or a 5 on the test this year or else our school will not keep its superior rating"! That is not fair to a 4th grader who is dealing with a ton of hormonal and emotional issues as well as already has test anxiety.

OHHHHH, I am an angry MOM right now!!