Andy Young: "the NEW tests pose little risk to students." I beg to differ.

In Sunday's edition of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, editor Andy Young leant us his vast intellect and expertise in the field of education in his editorial entitled "Parents shouldn't pass on testing."

After taking a swipe at concerned parents choice of "trendy names," he assures all interested individuals that while the tests will be more challenging, they are simply designed to assure that our students will be career and college ready. Mr. Young has clearly done his research by finding the meaning of the acronym PARCC.

"The new tests pose little immediate risk to students," he tells us as a segue to introducing us to recent House legislation that will not allow districts to retain or otherwise punish students for low scores. Mr. Young is confident the bill will become law, and I have no reason to disagree.

However, he goes on to smugly mock my colleague Stacie Starr for her announcement last week to leave public education due, in part, to the culture of assessment in public education. Mr. Young believes that the introduction of the aforementioned House Bill "12 days earlier" should have alleviated her concerns.

Andy Young you are missing the point. Had you even read your own paper's account of the forum, or spoken to Chronicle reporter Lisa Roberson who attended, then you would know that a fear of low scores and retention were not the issue for Ms. Starr. They are not the issue for others opposed to the assessments either. We know the scores will be low. A rudimentary bit of research indicates that passing rates on similar tests in New York are at 30%. Passing rates for minorities there have been as low as 16-17% in ELA and Math.

The reason people are outraged, and why some have chosen to refuse the tests, is because the mere process of assessment is utterly demoralizing for the students involved. Yes, more time is spent in assessment, as he indicates, but what is more problematic is the fact that the tests themselves are developmentally inappropriate, the reading levels are too high for grade level, as are maturity levels in the readings. Beyond this, the electronic format and the use of multiple texts is a confusing and convoluted presentation from the perspective of an average student. This was Ms. Starr's issue, along with the sentiment that it is morally wrong to subject Special Education students to these experiences, especially because the state is refusing to allow accommodations as prescribed in the student's Individual Education Plan.

I challenge Mr. Young to do some actual research.  He should attend a forum, speak to some students or teachers familiar with the practice tests, or take a practice test himself.

I should congratulate him on recognizing that the Common Core is not a diabololical conspiracy to take over education or Ohio or the United States. He also recognizes the philosophical conundrum that Republicans in Ohio need to address: more assessment and accountability or get the government out of the lives of the people.

Despite these reasonable conclusions, the editorial's topic (as rambling as it may have been) was to discourage parents from refusing the test.  I believe that Mr. Young needs to do a lot more research before he can provide an educated opinion on that topic.

Let Mr. Young know how you feel about the issue of excessive assessment at the following...

          (440)329-7111               or                ayoung@chroniclet.com