I just read Learning Denied (1991) by Denny Taylor. Taylor, an educator/researcher, documents a family's struggles with a school district. While this is not a recent publication, I think in some ways, things have gotten worse. I am a second grade teacher and I see the weight put on standardized test scores, focusing on what a child/teacher/school cannot do instead of what he/they can do. With the new emphasis on systematic phonics and the reduction of learning to a list of subskills, everyone--teachers, students, schools, districts--get measured and compared by arbitrary markers. Real estate values are based on school test scores and student/teacher/school success is seen through a narrow lens. I couldn't help but rant a bit after reading this book tonight. Educators are caught in the legalistic web right along with families. Anyone else read this?
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