[guili12737]

Here's yet another example of how NCLB has effected education. This article in the NY TImes talks about the standards for passing the state-wide final exams in NY state. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/education/despite-focus-on-data-standards-for-diploma-may-still-la...

I grew up in NY and took several Regents exams. They used to be challenging. Now they seem like a joke. Is a HS diploma worth anything anymore? How does this dumbing down of material help students at all? How will these students succeed in a career with the bar set so low in school? All I can do is shake my head sometimes.

[guili12737]

Here's yet another example of how NCLB has effected education. This article in the NY TImes talks about the standards for passing the state-wide final exams in NY state. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/education/despite-focus-on-data-standards-for-diploma-may-still-la...

I grew up in NY and took several Regents exams. They used to be challenging. Now they seem like a joke. Is a HS diploma worth anything anymore? How does this dumbing down of material help students at all? How will these students succeed in a career with the bar set so low in school? All I can do is shake my head sometimes.

[trouchflute]

Funny you should mention the Regents, Giuli.  It was just two years ago that I did my student teaching in western NY (Lancaster High).  I was in special ed.  Quite frankly, it really burned my tushie that all we ever seemed to do was coach students to take the Regents exams.  This was not only true in my SPED courses, but also in a "regular" science class that I did observations in.

Teaching to the test.  It doesn't do anyone any good, no matter what the level of the exams is.  I think the talents of the students, whatever those may be, would be better served without those stupid things.  Provide a variety of programs.  Provide courses to prepare the most academically able for university.  Provide trade courses for the students who would be better in those (as an example: go ahead and ask me to write a brilliant paper, but don't ask me to fix a car!)  Be sure to emphasize that academics don't always make the big bucks or are employed, but trade workers can be.

NY, if you MUST have those (*&)*(&^*(&^)( exams, bring back the two-tiered system!  Are those exams even necessary for the university bound?  I got into the education program at SUNY at Buffalo (the most prestigious in the area) never having taken one of those exams (I applied from Arizona).

Express!

Beth "Petrouchka"

[greatteacher32]

This is why my dream school, WILL BE PRIVATE. That way I will not be TIED to so much mandatory testing, there will be only ONE and it wont be levied at the kids as a pass it or fail your grade test either. The educational system sucks and this is why our kids dont retain information like we did, THEY ARE SPOON FED EVERYTHING!!