Anti-Test 'Opt Out' Movement Makes A Wave In New York State

[Captain Obvious]

It's my strong opinion that our education system is failing for a number of contributory reasons.

Parents with children are some of the stupidest animals on the planet.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/04/...new-york-state

Across New York state this week, some students are refusing to take a test, and they're not getting punished for it. The test is the Common Core-aligned, federally mandated test, and students, parents and educators are part of what they're calling the opt-out movement.

Opt outs made news last week in several states: Colorado, Florida, Oregon, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, to name a few. The objections are similar everywhere. But no state is posting numbers like New York.

According to the advocates' own tally, about 175,000 opted out in several hundred New York districts. That's big for a protest, but pretty small compared with the millions of students enrolled in public school in the state.

[Peter1469]

Jeb is a big proponent of common core. That will alienate a lot of Americans.

[Captain Obvious]

Jeb is a big proponent of common core. That will alienate a lot of Americans.

I heard Jeb defending his "conservatism" over the weekend.

That says something.

[Venus]

I don't really have a problem with this.

Teachers spend at least 1/3 of the school year preparing students for federal and state testing. I know testing is important but when you spend a third of the school year just on the preparation of these test how much learning is actually going on.

[Captain Obvious]

I don't really have a problem with this.

Teachers spend at least 1/3 of the school year preparing students for federal and state testing. I know testing is important but when you spend a third of the school year just on the preparation of these test how much learning is actually going on.

Yeah, why waste time preparing.

Our education system is failing because we as a society know no better than to just throw consultant models at the problem wherein the problem isn't with the system, it's with the student.

Why should people bother learning anything, it's a pain in the ass. Mom and dad will tell the school how much they suck, tests and classes will get dumbed down and hell, all they're going to do is sit around, collect welfare, smoke pot and play video games for the rest of their lives so who needs an education?

[Venus]

During the preparations of federal and state tests the teachers only concentrate on the test itself, not whole subjects. Yes I have a problem with that. You don't. We disagree.

The problem(s) with public education is the student, parent(s), teachers, unions, administration, government.

[Captain Obvious]

During the preparations of federal and state tests the teachers only concentrate on the test itself, not whole subjects. Yes I have a problem with that. You don't. We disagree.

The problem(s) with public education is the student, parent(s), teachers, unions, administration, government.

No, I don't have a problem with preparing. I have a huge problem when we try to make education into something else that's "fun" or "easy" or some other bull$#@! consultant concept that's not even worth wiping one's ass with.

Learning takes time, preparation, discipline and a want to be educated. Everything else is jerkoffology.

[Venus]

Testing is one way schools receive federal and state funding.

I’m saying that when testing students for funding is more important than the teaching of students, I have issues with it.

[Captain Obvious]

Testing is one way schools receive federal and state funding.

I’m saying that when testing students for funding is more important than the teaching of students, I have issues with it.

I get that part.

[Peter1469]

Learning a topic, or learning to think in general, is very different than preparing for a test.