Upset by what they claimed was misinformation and misperceptions permeated by media coverage, Pearson made a botched attempt to launch a social media campaign (see the internal memo) to “demystify testing for parents.”
Pearson employees spent the day censoring comments but as the 9 - 5ers left the office, parents and teachers came on duty to send a loud and clear message to Pearson: “We’re not mystified. We don’t want your tests.”
Ironically, the voices of parents and teachers who are opposed to standardized testing are being brought together on Pearson’s page as word of their existence spreads among the opt out of testing groups that exist on Facebook for every state in the nation. (Parents can join these by visiting the following url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutYourState i.e. https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutOhio)
Pearson’s page does not have an iota of support. Instead of schooling parents on the benefits of testing, Pearson’s page has become the grounds for parents and educators to teach Pearson a thing or two about what they want for their children.
So the question is this...
Who gets to decide what’s best for children? Pearson or Parents?
Parents and teachers have made their views clear. They don’t want the multi-billion dollar publishing industry imposing upon children what is best for their net profits. Parents and teachers are through following orders and are ready to stand up and take back their right to guide and direct learning that serves the best interest of children.
Parents and teachers know best. They don’t want the test. They did a wonderful job of explaining why in the censored comments they posted on the page. Fortunately, the after-office hours comments have yet to be deleted from Pearson's page. You can read the comments left by parents and teachers after the 9 - 5ers at Pearson went home for the night below along with the number of comments that had been censored earlier (in red).
Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
4 hours agoPARCC is looking to ensure college and career readiness for all students through better assessments and testing. To learn more, visit the PARCC website: http://www.parcconline.org/
4 comments censored
Marcy McKee Novak How about improving college and career readiness by spending time and money on TEACHING the children, instead of testing them over and over?3 hours ago via mobile · Unlike · 3
Rosemarie Jensen I am not looking to school to make my kids "college and Career" ready for the corporations waiting to exploit them. School is to help foster a love of learning, an abillity to think critically, and a place to explore and discover one's talents. It should be a place of joyful learning which is rare giving the pressure of the test prep curriculum RTTT and CC envision.2 hours ago · Unlike · 3
Susan Schutt We don't need standardized tests to make kids college ready! We only need them to line your pockets!!!
Jean Schutt McTavish Pearson and their corporate venture/vulture philanthropist cronies have colonized our profession. They took away our vocabulary, our philosophy, and our culture. They replaced this with the new Jim Crow. The Corporate reformers try to disguise their plan in the language of equity. As if....It doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out their story.about an hour ago via mobile · Like · 1
Jean Schutt McTavish Parents! Stop the Pearson madness. Opt out of standardized testing. Tell your elected representatives and your local education officials that you want to work with teachers in the process of educating your children. It is a right guaranteed to you by the Constitution. Bubble test makers are not accountable to parents. Protect your children and quality education for all citizens in the public schools. Opt out!55 minutes ago via mobile · Like · 2
Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative looks to provide clear expectations for every child and family on what students are expected to learn. New assessments are being developed to meet these academic standards. Learn more at the Common Core site: http://www.corestandards.org/
5 comments censored
Rosemarie Jensen Funny, my children's teachers and their report cards and graded classroom papaers, projects, tests, and quizzes tell me all I need to know as I can SEE what they did right and wrong. These tests tell me absolutely nothing other than they had a good day, a bad day, they are LD, they are good test takers. Common Core is unconstitutional as well but hey, now you will have large eduational markets from which to profit!!8 hours ago · Unlike · 11
Jesse Turner Hey what was that pineapple test thing in New York again?8 hours ago · Like · 2
Marcy McKee Novak Common core BS. Kids aren't cookie cutter automatrons. They're people, with different ideas, abilities, and interests. One text does not fit all.4 hours ago · Like · 3
Nancy Flanagan Two questions: What about the national standards from the 1990s? I enjoyed using those, but for some reason, they were castigated by reformers--probably because they were voluntary and created by teachers. Q #2) Since state-created standards (and aligned tests) didn't raise student achievement, where is the evidence that CC Standards will be better?4 hours ago · Like · 5
Scott Wilson Why are the comments hidden?4 hours ago · Unlike · 3
Marcy McKee Novak Censorship at it's finest. Probably because the comments don't match the rubric, don't have the bubble filled in completely, or heaven forbid - weren't typed with a #2 pencil.3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2
Rosemarie Jensen Nancy...amen...I taught then too and remember it being a time of empowerment for teachers as we studying, choosing our own materials, and were part of the school improvement planning team. demming was the word...3 hours ago · Like · 3
Susan Schutt I don't need the national government to determine expectations for student learning - my community has already done that - thanks anyway!!about an hour ago · Like · 2
Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
8 hours agoLearn the basics of standardized testing.
Standardized testing. What is it and how does it work? | FWD
4 comments censored
Lisa Michelle Nielsen Standardized testing is one of the least effective and most expensive ways to test children. It makes millions for you Pearson, but it is bad for children.
Teachers are trained to teach and assess. Stay out of their business. Let them do their job and restore the millions in resources given to you back to the kids.
If you or others don't understand all the ways you can assess without wasting millions on Pearson, read the article I wrote about it.
Pearson, please don't censor those of us who know better. Let parents and kids sort out the truth for themselves.
Marcy McKee Novak Why does this say there are 5 comments, yet only 2 show op? Do I sense white out on Pearson's screens, trying to censor?
Tyler Derden here are the basics: 1) skill 2) drill 3) kill the human imagination and passion for learning2 hours ago · Unlike · 5
Elizabeth Loizidis Lynch Destroy creativity and imagination and make classrooms into nothing more than test-prep factories. That's how standardized testing works (or doesn't work when we look at what it really does to children)!Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
10 hours agoDisney Family gives advice on how to prepare your children for test time.
Don't Sweat It | Parenting
7 comments censored
Rosemarie Jensen Opt out...no stress.
Lisa Michelle Nielsen There's an opt out of testing group on Facebook for every state in the U.S.
You can join the discussion to opt out in your state in two ways.
1) Type in the search: Opt out of State Standardized Tests - Your State i.e. Opt Out of State Standardized Tests - Ohio
2) Go to the page url: https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutYourState i.e. https://www.facebook.com/groups/OptOutOhio
4 hours ago · Like
Marcy McKee Novak I homeschool to keep my son from having to take standardized tests.
Marcy McKee Novak I think in honor of this article, we'll watch Cartoon Network instead while we do school in our jammies.3 hours ago via mobile · Like · 2
Rosemarie Jensen Yes, Disney...the place I look to for parenting information.3 hours ago · Like · 2
Darciann Post Samples why do you keep deleting posts? what are you afraid of? and why did you ban Peggy Robertson?about an hour ago · Like · 2
Rosemarie Jensen Or send your child to a tony private school like the Obamas, Emmanuels, Rhees, and Cuomos where they takle NONE of these crappy tests AND they have small classes, arts, p.e., and languages to boot. Go figure.Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
MondayWhat do all of these measurements and terms mean? The National Council on Measurement in Education has a good reference for parents.
Glossary - National Council on Measurement in Education
ncme.org
1 comment censored
Marcy McKee Novak They mean nothing when it comes to actually teaching children. It's a bunch of money making edu-ese BS.
James Horn Upon examining the summary of the new NCLB Act in 2001, NCS Pearson's Chief David Smith said "this almost looks like our business plan." Now ten years later and with a new federal horror to live through, RTTT is, in fact, Pearson's business plan, as Pearson is to Obama what McGraw-Hill was to Bush.
Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
May 31Dr. Kimberly O'Malley, Pearson researcher, shares her views on standardized testing from a parent's perspective.
A Mom’s Take on Testing | FWD
fwd.pearson.com
I have two sons aged 6 and 9 whom I love more than anything in the world. As a mom, I pay close attention to standardized testing. Why?
1Like · · Share
8 people like this.
15 comments censored
James Horn Chinese schools are using an exciting new strategy to improve test scores for their students, one that Pearson should consider promoting: intravenous drips of amino acids! It makes children more alert and energized for extra hours of field testing and test preparation. Pearson could even market their own personalized student testing backpacks, complete with telescoping IV hangers and a supply of disposable barf bags.
12 hours ago · Like
Darciann Post Samples How much did you get paid to record this propaganda? How can you live with yourself, looking into the eyes of your two boys knowing that their days are filled with dumbing down and test prep?10 hours ago · Like · 9
Rosemarie Jensen What a
Condescending piece of garbage this is. Will be responding when on my computer!!!
10 hours ago via mobile · Like · 7
Lisa Abboud Zitner I'm liking this only because I'm dying to see comments and I know Ro you will have something awesome to say!9 hours ago via mobile · Like · 3
Rosemarie Jensen Lol! I am gearing up....9 hours ago via mobile · Like · 4
Matthew Brooks In today's "global economy" perhaps we should be focusing on creativity and exploration rather than narrowing the vision of success. OR... Maybe we should just pay sell-outs to make bogus videos explaining how you should just stand in line and be good. Meanwhile, we can make a buck or two off this whole thing. Is that about right?9 hours ago · Like · 8
Marcy McKee Novak A mom's take on testing? More like an employee hoping to keep her job by agreeing with company policy.4 hours ago · Like · 5
Jackie Johnson A test driven curriculum will prepare your child to get a job at Wal-Mart.4 hours ago · Like · 7
Chris Cerrone This "researcher" is either paid a ton of money to deceive parents or I question where she received her doctorate.about an hour ago · Like · 2
Parents, Kids & Testing shared a link.
May 30The US Department of Education answers some frequently asked questions about standardized tests.
Testing: Frequently Asked Questions
www2.ed.gov
How testing helps teachers and principals, how can parents find out if their child's school uses test results to improve teaching and learning, what subjects will be covered in tests, and other answers to questions about testing.
Like · · Share
Hester Tinti-Kane likes this.
2 comments censored
Robert Valiant Ask your childs's teacher how standardized testing helped him/her provide a joyful learning experience or even one that opens up the future.
Sean Black The answers fall in the category of what I call horseshit (and my tip of the hat to Jerry Bracey).5 hours ago · Like · 3
Marcy McKee Novak These tests do nothing to help kids learn. They're nothing but a waste of time and money that would be better spent by allowing teachers to actually TEACH!4 hours ago · Like · 3
James Horn How about some frequently repeated malicious lies purporting to be facts?Parents, Kids & Testing
For information about what's happening in your state, check out the "Testing in Your State" tab.
How do you know your child is learning? Testing is one important way for parents and teachers to monitor a child's progress in school. Learn more about testing and how it can help inform your child's education.
2 people like this.
4 comments censored
Mike Harris I talk to my children and read to them and make mud pies and make up stories and games and rules i do not want or need more tests to tell me if and what my children are learning leave my children alone!!!!!
________________________________________
Want to read more? Read this from The Huntington Teacher. 
Thank you SO much for this!
ReplyDeleteThe worst "test" ever: Maryland's ALT MSA: a Pearson abomination for kids with severe disabilities. It is abhorred by parents and teachers alike because it takes time away from valuable life skills instruction for kids with severe intellectual disabilities and instead requires teachers to waste time on topics like acute angles, Shakespeare, and DNA. It costs money, its a time waster, and the results are meaningless.
ReplyDeleteMy son's school opts out of standardized testing. To get out of it takes a _unanimous_ decision, in writing, by every single family in the school. But we do it, and we get back weeks and weeks of actual teaching time for our kids that would otherwise be wasted on test prep.
ReplyDeleteJason, that's a great idea. We're in Chicago. Could you help me find the law on this?
ReplyDeleteOnly the 32 million from NY state matters to you Pearson, not the kids or time away from real teaching. I will opt out all of my children and spread the word. The truth will come out even if you hide the test and all the hidden dummy questions that you put our children through each year. Shame on Pearson!
ReplyDelete