Précis

"The wrong things are predominantly stressed in the schools - things remote from the student's experience and need." - Anne Sullivan Macy

The national discussion on education has unfortunately become politically polarizing in such a way that if one expresses one's thoughts on assessment, they are likely to be labeled and then belittled by whatever "-winger" has an opposing view.

Whatever side of the aisle one is on, common sense dictates that there needs to be relevant assessment in order to judge whether or not the job at hand is getting done...and done well.

One of the unfortunate by-products of assessment and standards is that students and staff are suffering from test fatigue. Additionally, in the name of expediency, too much testing depends on multiple choice assessments that do not offer evaluations that have much depth or value. Too many standards to cover result in instruction that is widespread but only a few inches deep. Common Core standards are a good first step in creating a common national goal that is eminently "doable."

(The above tag cloud was created using Tagul and Common Core's Reading standards for 11/12)