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To: gracesdad
The primary culprit in th decline of “recess” is the enormous rise in state and federal standardized tests that have to be passed because of NCLB and state standards.

Huh? When I was a kid in the 60s we had standardized tests every year in elementary school. They were called the "Iowas" or something like that (this was in in NY state). We also had standardized state tests called the "Regents" for all our high school classes.

Despite all this testing, we still had time for recess and study hall. We also ate cupcakes.

23 posted on 09/04/2007 1:04:05 PM PDT by BigBobber
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To: BigBobber

“Huh? When I was a kid in the 60s we had standardized tests every year in elementary school. They were called the “Iowas” or something like that (this was in in NY state). We also had standardized state tests called the “Regents” for all our high school classes.”

I can absolutely guarantee you didn’t have the number of standardized tests kids have now. My son HAD to take three sets of them this past year, including ones for courses he aced the year before. This crap is now required under NCLB and the state standards of learning.

Also, in the 60s your school didn’t face being taken over and its teachers fired if students didn’t reach some arbitrary goal mandated by Congress, the president and some faceless bureaucrat in Washington. I’m not saying educators shouldn’t be accountable, but one-size-fits-all tests do not make for better students or better teachers. I’d argue that teachers and a large percentage of students are worse for it.


48 posted on 09/04/2007 8:01:46 PM PDT by gracesdad
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