Comments for Geek PalaverGeek Palaver

Comment on Parents May Opt Out of Testing by Parent

Parent — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 17:14:40 +0000

Notified by whom?

Comment on Parents May Opt Out of Testing by Justthefacts

Justthefacts — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 04:18:35 +0000

Yes teachers were notified that district office was requiring the reading coaches to enroll all students not showing a certain % of growth and that each student was to spend 20 minutes a day and that teacher classes would be monitored for use . They were also instructed to use write to learn a % of the day and again it would be monitored

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by RedEye

RedEye — Thu, 30 May 2013 13:02:27 +0000

“There’s a reason why none of the three board members coming up for reelection in 2014 are planning to run again.”

They have done their damage now they can slink on off into the sunset….

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by Russell

Russell — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:13:52 +0000

“Smoke and mirrors.”

There’s a reason why none of the three board members coming up for reelection in 2014 are planning to run again.

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by Russell

Russell — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:11:43 +0000

That’s an excellent question.

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by Russell

Russell — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:10:36 +0000

Fair enough.

Except that I’m not sure what deal the state worked out for the software they’re offering districts. I don’t know where they display their contracts.

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by bonehead2

bonehead2 — Thu, 30 May 2013 02:59:49 +0000

A nit…but to make a point. Instead of

“…formative testing software that the Alabama State Board of Education will provide to our district for free.”,

I think a better statement would be

“…formative testing software that the Alabama State Board of Education will provide to our district for no additional charge.”

The software that the State Board of Education provides would have obviously cost something to produce or procure, which my tax dollars went to pay for. Now, because HCS decided to use something else, I’m paying twice! Because the district provides no justification for how they make their decisions, I have no idea which software is better. Certainly however, paying for two software systems is unbelievably wasteful.

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by Martha Williams

Martha Williams — Thu, 30 May 2013 02:44:03 +0000

I shared on Facebook the link to your opinion with the following comments from me:

Someone needs to investigate why the Huntsville City School System
utilizes STAR testing by the Renaissance Company (excellent)
to evaluate the teachers who are forced to use the
Pearson Education Company products (deplorable)
for instruction.

If the system used Renaissance Learning Company Accelerated Math correctly
and applied the STAR testing correctly to determine students needs,
our system could be the best in the nation.

Here is a link to Accelerated Math Live by Renaissance Learning.
http://www.renlearn.com/am/default.aspx

Comment on A Quarter of a Million Wasted on STAR Testing by Dazed and Confused by Current Events

Dazed and Confused by Current Events — Thu, 30 May 2013 02:12:16 +0000

Seems like it was just a few months ago that HCS was woefully in the red financially. Didn’t even have enough money to cover the emergency fund mandated by the state. Yet, now just a few months later, all debts are paid, emergency fund fully vetted, multiple new buidlings are being planned, and HCS has spent a quarter mil on a testing product. I have one question:

Where is the money coming from?

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Parent in the Loop

Parent in the Loop — Wed, 29 May 2013 17:25:34 +0000

Thank you TeachAU for clarifying that. Also, it is not uncommon for teachers to give “extra credit” assignments that add points to tests or overall average. Believe me, if a teacher wants to raise a grade, it is not hard. The “graduated difficulty” test administered by the laptop lunacy is another joke. Why are we customizing tests according to the student’s ability? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? We should be customizing our approach in teaching certain students in how to grasp the concepts of particular curriculum. The concepts of that curriculum should remain constant.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by TeachAU

TeachAU — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:41:20 +0000

All scores can be “altered” to look better.

1. With the star test something happens that we call the “W” effect. They test super low, so next time they get an easier test and test high, then the next test is hard again and they don’t do as well so the score is lower, then an easier test,ect. As long as the last test they take is on the upswing the schools look good….it may or may not be the child’s actual ability. (I had some students that their final score did not reflect actual ability)

2. Yes, we are “forced” to alter/change grades for failing students to make it look as if they are doing better than they are. It’s frustrating. You don’t change scores….you lose your job. Simple as that.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Teacher

Teacher — Wed, 29 May 2013 16:18:35 +0000

How can you “pad the scores” if they are computer-based tests like the STAR test, the ACT EOC test, or other tests? Or are you talking about tests you administer in your classroom? Are you being forced to pass students, especially seniors (so the principal will look good) like is rumored in some schools?

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by TeachAU

TeachAU — Tue, 28 May 2013 19:06:44 +0000

I emailed Dr. Bice we will see what he says.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Parent in the Loop

Parent in the Loop — Tue, 28 May 2013 14:24:24 +0000

OK, so I’m a fairly new teacher and realize that without tenure, I am depending on test scores to keep my job. So, do I accurately assess the students in my class (even though many are as thick as a brick and may come from homes who don’t foster learning or could care less) or do I play it safe and pad the scores enough to make me look like I have accomplished the impossible and turned failing students into college bound prodigies, and therefore secure the job I so desperately in order to pay back the loans for an education I worked for so that I could teach in the first place! Rubber stamping. That’s all it’s going to wind up being. And ALL of this falls on Wardynski’s head. He is single-handedly ruining the Huntsville City School system.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Russell

Russell — Sun, 26 May 2013 17:09:26 +0000

Threaten to quit. And go over the local’s head.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Jd

Jd — Sun, 26 May 2013 16:54:43 +0000

I called them and they basically said sorry we can’t help you

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Bandet

Bandet — Sun, 26 May 2013 13:58:23 +0000

I don’t know. I think she is going through HEA.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Jd

Jd — Sun, 26 May 2013 02:08:49 +0000

What lawyer is she using?

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Russell

Russell — Sat, 25 May 2013 14:17:35 +0000

That’s far more than just talk. There is evidence of just that. Her lawyer should be able to get it.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Bandet

Bandet — Sat, 25 May 2013 07:39:56 +0000

She is doing just that. Plus there is talk about manipulating test scores. Some students were retested several times until certain scores were achieved.

Comment on Parents May Opt Out of Testing by Dusty

Dusty — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:26:20 +0000

I think we should ALL write Dr. Bice and express our concerns! (Drafting an email now, as a matter of fact!)

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Russell

Russell — Fri, 24 May 2013 21:58:37 +0000

Please tell her that since they gave her cause, she has grounds to fight the dismissal now. And she should since acceptable test scores were a constantly moving target all year.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Bandet

Bandet — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:44:25 +0000

A first year teacher was fired due to her low test scores. Without tenure you can be fired without cause, but she was told specifically test scores. Just wait for the stuff to hit the fan!

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Parent in the loop

Parent in the loop — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:00:34 +0000

Sad. Just told by a parent that 47 Huntsville City School teachers were just informed that their contracts are not being renewed. The carnage continues.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by anonymous

anonymous — Tue, 21 May 2013 23:53:26 +0000

That happened in Aurora Public Schools too. Go figure.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by Russell

Russell — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:16:59 +0000

It does indeed send that message. It follows right along with the message sent to our 3rd graders that school really ends in the middle of April.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by havealittletalk

havealittletalk — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:14:08 +0000

Wardynski says: “So our kids now have two ways to get a high school diploma. They can take the high school graduation exam and pass, or they can take the ACT Quality Core exam and pass.”

Quite interesting, that: Taking classes is no longer what one does to get a high school diploma?

My daughter took the high school graduation exam in 10th grade last year and passed (the kids start taking the graduation exams as sophomores for practice). And of course, duh, that didn’t mean she got her high school diploma, did it?

But it sends an interesting message to these kids: here, you’ve met the testing requirements to leave high school in 10th grade and since education=testing, what point is there in dealing with the high school nonsense for two more years?

Comment on What Changes Wardynski Hath Wrought by Russell

Russell — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:25:16 +0000

German at Grissom has officially been cut.

Ridiculous.

Comment on What Changes Wardynski Hath Wrought by Tyler

Tyler — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:32:32 +0000

I was under the impression the Ann Roy Moore was a horrible superintendent. I would literally do anything possible to get her back as superintendent. This year was probably the worst school year of my life. These laptops have been nothing but hell, most of my teachers have barely wanted us to use them and the ones that did want us to use them completely hated them, and worst of all (in my opinion) German is most likely going to be cut and my German teacher already has a job on backup just in case. I’ve tried so hard to get in German and now that I’ve finally gotten in it might be gone.

Comment on Canceling PE In Favor of Testing by RedEye

RedEye — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:58:10 +0000

I hate to agree with Ben but something needs to be done, I don’t know if a lawsuit is in order but a complaint to the U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights division might be in order, starting with the censoring of public comments at public meetings.