"Sixteen years ago I began teaching first graders. Over time I have watched curriculum and assessments change drastically. There are many types of assessments that teachers use to develop and individualize curriculum. This move toward using standardized assessment as the primary indicator of success limits teachers in a drastic way.

"While this act was supposed to provide a better education for children, I have watched standardized assessments force out the science and social studies curriculum. I have watched standardized assessments measure minority students in a way that limits their success. I have watched as qualified teachers are moved from classrooms where they are needed to other places because of technicalities. I have watched as crazy decisions are made under this act to supply a number on a paper to some faraway person. These decisions often benefit zero people-not parents, children, teachers, or administrators.

"I have watched as good schools are labeled inadequate because one special education student with severe disabilities couldn't adequately pass one part of one test. I have watched as teachers only teach to 'bubble' students, or students on the edge of passing, forgetting the lower end and the upper end students to focus only on the four or five who could make a difference for meeting AYP. I have watched as teachers become so driven for scores that they bend the rules, violating testing protocol. I have watched as teachers become irate because they didn't want a certain type of student in their classroom because the student would lower the class's scores.

"I think that businessmen measure with numbers and use scores to drive their business model. I think teachers should measure with a variety of tools--standardized data, observation, informal assessments, family background information, cultural awareness information, medical information, and common sense. While this more authentic way of assessing may not be able to be published in the paper with a convenient number system, students benefit from good teaching and from informed teachers who use their professional training to teach students at their most appropriate level in an individualized and caring way.

"I would like to see us move back to teaching with more balance and with emphasis placed squarely on student achievement rather than on improving numbers that mean nothing authentic to anyone."

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