To Teach This Topic or Not to Teach This Topic, That Is Not the Question

It may seem like I keep complaining about the same old thing, but I am not alone in my belief that there is much to complain about in this standardized test driven era of schooling. The Ohio Achievement Test is rapidly approaching in April, and as both a tutor for the OAT's and an observer of a middle school class that is preparing for them, this is the first time I've gotten to experience standardized tests from the perspective of a teacher. Teachers hate standardized test just as much, if not more, than students. They not only dictate the curriculum, they also dictate WHEN certain standards should be taught.

This probably comes as a surprise to many people. I for one was under the assumption that it didn't matter when you taught each standard, so long as it was taught according to the grade-level indicators. Is it really necessary to regulate when standards are taught within each grade? Apparently so.

A few weeks ago when I was observing in my 7th grade classroom, my collaborating teacher mentioned a countdown to the OAT's (I think 60 days, but I could be remembering incorrectly). Initially, I thought it was just a friendly reminder or an attempt at motivating students to do the work. However, after class she told me that once the countdown begins, there are very specific standards and topics she has to focus on each day. In a way, I see this as almost demeaning to teachers. Teachers are already given strict standards to teach to all throughout the year, yet once OAT's start to close in, teachers are not even given the freedom to decide what they will teach and when. Are teachers not competent enough to assess where their students are, what they need to work on, and what should be taught first, second, or third? It sure doesn't seem like it, at least not to me.

I need to make it known that I am not opposed to standards. In and of themselves, standards are not a bad thing. Experts have done the hard work of figuring out what students need to know throughout their 13 years of schooling and when, which is certainly helpful. But what I am opposed to is the standards completely ruling the curriculum and teachers not being given the freedom to do what they do best: just teach. Teaching for the enjoyment and for the students, not for a test.