Dear Superintendent Banda,
By
unanimous
agreement, Pathfinder K-8 teachers would like to express our full and
unequivocal support for our colleagues across the district who have
boycotted the MAP test. While it is true that there are certain uses for
the MAP, and that some teachers find ways to make
it useful, its costs far outweigh its benefits. We share the criticisms
our colleagues have so thoughtfully conveyed to you. To provide one
specific example, at Pathfinder students lose access to our computer lab
for nearly 4 months of the school year. For
many students, this is the only opportunity they have to use technology
to support their learning. As educators, we must prioritize learning
over testing and we sincerely hope that you share this philosophy.
We
appreciate
your decision to convene a task force on assessment. In the meantime, we
ask that you respect the decision your teachers have made to waste no
more precious instructional time on a test that does not serve the needs
of our students. Your
teachers want the very best for students and that includes meaningful assessment tools. You
have
the opportunity to demonstrate inspired leadership and to send a message
that, as the AAUP-UW contended, teachers in your district are
regarded as educated
professionals fully qualified to advise the school district with regards
to assessment of student learning. As Superintendent, you have the
chance to restore integrity and compassion to our district. Perhaps most
importantly, you have the ability to show you
are listening, really listening, to the voices of teachers in Seattle
and across the entire country.
5 comments:
Come on, four months? As I remember MAP is maybe a week each time it's administered. These ' unanimous" declarations real of disinterest on the part of teachers who are willing to go along with the rabble-rousers. Let the district work out a better assessment, if the is one, and let these teachers get their union house in order and find a way to evaluate teachers that works. I can imagine that Pinehurst had no more than the 25% of union members who voted for their current leadership, yet 100% agree on the MAP issue? My guess is it's a lot easier to sign off on a letter to the sup. than go to a union meeting.
KS
KS
Check the assessment calender on the district's REA page. Our elementary had a 4 week testing window for fall, winter, and spring: 3 weeks, then 1 week for make-ups. I expect larger schools req more time.
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At Hamilton, MAPS testing takes place from 1/9 - 2/20.
I get daily emails that tell me to have my student return a book followed by notification that the library is closed.
HIMS Parent
Anyhoo, it is a lot of time but the other points are valid. Teachers should address their union first.
KS
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