Sent to the National Post.
Note: Conrad Black is the founder of the National Post
Conrad Black’s “In response to failing test results, teachers’ federation proposes ending testing” (Nov 3) is a disaster on two levels.
First, the headline writer did not read the article carefully. The writer calls a 7% drop in one subject in one grade over five years a “failing result,” without considering scores in other grades, or how many items wrong cause such a drop, or which kind of items caused the drop.
The headline writer also wrote that the union called for ending testing. The only quotes from the union in the article asked if the tests provide a fair assessment and suggested considering formative testing, not a radical move.
Second, Mr. Black jumps to conclusions without evidence, claiming that discovery approaches to teaching are the same as not teaching, and that “the intelligence Quotient” of the population is declining.
Black also asserts that we should decertify unions. The union is calling for study of the situation, and appears to be the only adult in the room in this discussion.
Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California
Original article: http://nationalpost.com/opinion/conrad-black-in-response-to-falling-test-results-teachers-federation-proposes-ending-testing
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