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Child Abuse in California

Ohanian Comment: Look at the hypocrisy here: California has money for tests that no testing expert considers legitmate--testing second graders. But they don't have money for state university courses in teacher education. Their policy is to increase the standardized testing of 7-year-olds and at the same time decrease the educational opportunities of teachers.

Kudos to Monica Hart-Nolan, a teacher willing to speak out.

Teacher silence is harming children.

by Monica Hart-Nolan

I'm so steamed right now I had to write you!

You probably heard that in California the legislation
requiring STAR testing for 2nd graders had expired last
spring. There was an effort to dissuade lawmakers from
reinstating it, which was apparently successful. Until a few
days ago, we all thought we were not testing 2nd graders
this year. (They wanted to save money.)

Meanwhile, I am newly enrolled student at San Francisco
State U, hoping to earn my Masters. Last week, I received
an email from the university stating that every course
offered by my department (Language & Literacy) was
cancelled. A few days later, another email came that said
only 3 courses had been reinstated, (this due to the final
passing of the state budget). I attended an orientation
last night where professors profusely apologized for the
mix-up, but that due to the budget crisis, were pledging
their flexibility in allowing us to take courses outside our
department, since so many inside were cancelled.

Today, as I was working in my classroom preparing for
school to start on Monday (and feeling blessedly relieved
that I would not have to administer STAR tests to seven
year olds this year), an email came in from one of our
district administrators. Apparently, STAR is back for 2nd
grade. You can read the press release.


So here I am, wanting to earn a Masters in Language &
Literacy so I can improve my practice and be more
effective with English Language Learners, but due to state
budget contraints, my core courses are cancelled. Yet
there seems to be plenty of money to pay some company
to produce tests for 7 year olds. Oh God, the irony...
I just want to projectile vomit... right on Jack O'Connell.

Thanks for "listening"!



— Monica Hart-Nolan
e-mail
2007-08-25


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