Mike from Colorado Springs

I am a social worker and work with kids from homeless backgrounds. I have watched public education become geared to standardized testing. This has turned education upside down. A typical 3rd grader spends most of their time preparing for testing. Areas of learning like poetry, etc. are dropped.

The test has such a slow turnaround that it does not inform teachers about what is happening with students until the students are in another class. In addition, it takes time away from addressing the learning needs of each student. I think we need to fix testing to inform teachers about current students in order to cater directly to students' needs. I like the Richardson plan, which scraps No Child Left Behind.

Filed in: Make Your Mark > Education