I agree that voter turnout will be critical. But I am just waiting to see what the MAGA crowd will do to discourage certain groups of people from voting. They've already purged the voter registration rolls in some states.
Maybe someday voting will welcomed by all parties. But I guess when you know most people hate your platform you try to limit participation. I share your worry.
It's not just the purging that I'm concerned about. It's the cacophony of intimidating words and outright dangerous lies that have me worried. My wife and I are serving as poll workers in a 3:1 red:blue area, and I know my wife is concerned about something untoward happening at the polls.
I'd like to hear your wise counselors' defense of MCAS because I disagree. My children are in their 40's so my experience is very dated but we lived in Virginia for some years under the SOL (Standards of Learning) test. The very real danger of these tests is that all classroom time gets dedicated to passing them. As failures reflect upon teachers individually, there is pressure to have students pass so they can remain employed. I'm sure most of us know that recall of information covered while cramming for a test is pretty low. Now imagine spending YEARS in a school system cramming for state assessment tests. Theoretically, these tests are a great way to make sure no student graduates without a basic education. But education is NOT memorizing facts, figures, etc. A good education teaches students HOW to learn. Standardized tests put emphasis on what to learn in order to pass tests. That is horrible preparation for life.
Carol, I have listened to teachers (friends and family) who have said the same thing as you have so well stated here. I especially agree with "The very real danger of these tests is that all classroom time gets dedicated to passing them." If it provides no time for developing critical thinking, history or the arts...it ain't right.
My thought is that if the curriculum is totally dominated by "teaching to the test" then there is something wrong with the creators. And something wrong with the whole project. However, without some sort of standards, at least at the state level, underperforming schools and less than ethical administrators will "pass through" kids in order to keep their "stats" looking good to protect their jobs.
So while I am in sympathy with those who would like to change the system, there DOES need to be some sort of testing that determines whether kids have received the education they showed up for.
I would vote yes to end the MCAS as it exists today if there was a replacement offered. But this ballot question simply dumps the idea of some sort of universal basic achievement level to be attached to a diploma.
When high school graduates move to the next portion of their lives they will be tested all the time. Whether they go to college or take up a trade - they will need to pass test after test in order to move into the careers of their choice.
And (thanks for getting me started! :)
I would hope the MCAS or whatever they call the thing includes a whole bunch of REAL history and CIVICs. I also think that the school year is too short. Nobody needs the kids to plow the fields or bring in the harvest anymore. School should be all year - one week off per quarter, maybe. And...I would pay teachers a lot more and test THEM more. What profession could be more important? What do you think?
Great discussion here. I agree with you, Bill. But Carol's concerns are well-founded. My wife was a teacher-turned-media specialist, and I saw the evolution of the focus on measuring teachers by the standardized test results. It incentivized the wrong things and degraded the overall education. Add to that all the political correctness, the book banning, the parents blaming the teachers for their own failures as parents, and so much more, and I feel sorry for teachers today. Oh, yeah, I forgot about arming them and fortifying their classrooms, and traumatizing kids with mass shooter drills. All we had to worry about was hiding under our desks in the case of nuclear war.
Absolutely agree that some proof of academic achievement is needed. I have a few ideas about how that could be done without massively intimidating, stressful (on students AND educators) standardized tests. Breaking the "testing" up into smaller bites is one idea. This could dial down the stress and if teachers were determined to teach the test, there would still be time for other learning.
Another idea is bringing arts back into curriculums in a BIG way. This isn't a new idea but here's what I've noticed: the arts have critical thinking and logic BAKED IN.
Four years ago at the age of 60 I achieved a BFA. To finish that degree I had to do one last semester at the "mother ship" university which was some miles from the art school. That semester was an eye opener. Many of my classmates were in the forensic sciences and quite a few were juniors and seniors. I was shocked to discover many whose logical and critical thinking wasn't just underdeveloped, it was very nearly absent! However, not a single one of my ART school classmates, regardless of academic disinterest, lacked critical thinking skills and the ability to follow a logic trail. Obviously there are exceptions but I believe studies which require a physical work product have much to recommend . And the amount of history required (loads!) for a BFA also lends itself to a keener understanding of cause and effect.
Admittedly, I'm biased. Not everyone can or wants to go to art school. But I think STEAM with an emphasis on the "A" plus lots of history taught by good teachers would help immensely. If students LEARN more and gain the ability to cross pollinate studies, testing wouldn't need to be such an additional, time consuming quest.
Having been a former and long time resident of Florida, I think they are going to remain red…unfortunately…especially after this latest Hurricane. The message of “send us your best and brightest” has been muffled from America’s hang low appendage. Not to mention the baked in state legislation for voter suppression is just as baked in as it was during the hanging chad years.
I hope I am wrong…but hope is such a poor platform for planning.
You are probably right. What gives me hope is twofold.
First, we spend enormous amounts of time planning for things that never happen.
As someone once said "Worry and Fear are useless emotions".
I know, easy to say.
But second, nothing that has happened to me personally or beyond was anything I would have predicted. Not who I would marry, not any of my jobs or where I would live. All completely and totally not in any of my plans. Not who would become president either. Bush the drunken pilot? Obama...black with the name Hussein?
Fear is not just an emotion. When managed with the proper training it’s a tool for function. Any combat veteran should tell you this. Any trained warrior who claims no fear or to be fearless should themselves be feared and seriously be doubted about their other dimensions for humanity. Like empathy. There’s a fine but distinct line between killer and warrior. Fear draws that line.
I respect your enthusiasm by reading every word you write.
Have you ever felt like you have had a chance to get a sneak peek at the future, but in the distance and through the fence you can see people still standing in line to see what you just saw? Do you yell out the spoiler and break the rule of being complaisant.
I just want to be wrong. That was my birthday wish this year.
I also should have mentioned more context as a former Floridian, having also seen the sausage being made as a former GOP gubernatorial appointee. Unless DIMS are able to remove the GOP legislative and legal foot on the scales in Florida, red will always be the new orange in this state.
Interesting. I'll have to pay more attention to the Public Questions on NJ's ballots. Yours sound more like non-binding survey questions. In NJ, I believe most relate to constitutional amendments or bond issues, and I believe the votes are binding. I found one from a couple of years ago though that amended the constitution to allow the legislature to consider certain legislation, a kinda two-step process.
Re: voter turnout and GOTV, I don't understand why some voters, particularly Democrats, don't see voting as both an inviolate right and a civic responsibility. And yet, they'll be more than happy to complain about the election outcome or the condition of the country that results. I'll repeat my mantra 'til I'm BLUE in the face: A massive BLUE WAVE can wash away the toxic RED TIDE!
I have been an advocate for automatic voter registration. Could be when we are born or when we get a SS card - but automatically activates when we turn 18. Then we would be required to vote. Penalties could be small (in Australia I believe it is $25). Could be tied to getting a driver's license or any kind of license. Could be that you couldn't buy alcohol or pot :)
The five questions listed here are binding. We have had non-binding questions in the past. But I believe that these override the legislature.
Great work Bill. Ballotpedia is an outstanding resource, almost a Cliff's Notes for those of us who don't have time during the rest of our lives to stay up to date on every issue.
Missouri is fortunate to have citizen's initiative access to all aspects of governance, but our legislators have worked hard to circumvent changes they don't like. 6 years ago the Clean Missouri amendment passed overwhelmingly to, among other things, limit gerrymandering and lobbying bribery to legislators. Two years later, after an intense campaign by the largely Republican legislature and governor, thanks to some very creative ballot language, those same voters repealed the amendment. The lesson was well learned, and this year, Amendment 3 which is the freedom of choice amendment will most likely pass by a substantial margin and minimize the loss of freedom and potential loss of life caused by the existing ban on medical termination of pregnancy.
Haven't gotten our sample ballot yet, it's a long one and it will be a long day at the polls but, in the end, well worth the effort.
I agree that voter turnout will be critical. But I am just waiting to see what the MAGA crowd will do to discourage certain groups of people from voting. They've already purged the voter registration rolls in some states.
Maybe someday voting will welcomed by all parties. But I guess when you know most people hate your platform you try to limit participation. I share your worry.
It's not just the purging that I'm concerned about. It's the cacophony of intimidating words and outright dangerous lies that have me worried. My wife and I are serving as poll workers in a 3:1 red:blue area, and I know my wife is concerned about something untoward happening at the polls.
Yes, that concerns us as well.
I'd like to hear your wise counselors' defense of MCAS because I disagree. My children are in their 40's so my experience is very dated but we lived in Virginia for some years under the SOL (Standards of Learning) test. The very real danger of these tests is that all classroom time gets dedicated to passing them. As failures reflect upon teachers individually, there is pressure to have students pass so they can remain employed. I'm sure most of us know that recall of information covered while cramming for a test is pretty low. Now imagine spending YEARS in a school system cramming for state assessment tests. Theoretically, these tests are a great way to make sure no student graduates without a basic education. But education is NOT memorizing facts, figures, etc. A good education teaches students HOW to learn. Standardized tests put emphasis on what to learn in order to pass tests. That is horrible preparation for life.
Carol, I have listened to teachers (friends and family) who have said the same thing as you have so well stated here. I especially agree with "The very real danger of these tests is that all classroom time gets dedicated to passing them." If it provides no time for developing critical thinking, history or the arts...it ain't right.
My thought is that if the curriculum is totally dominated by "teaching to the test" then there is something wrong with the creators. And something wrong with the whole project. However, without some sort of standards, at least at the state level, underperforming schools and less than ethical administrators will "pass through" kids in order to keep their "stats" looking good to protect their jobs.
So while I am in sympathy with those who would like to change the system, there DOES need to be some sort of testing that determines whether kids have received the education they showed up for.
I would vote yes to end the MCAS as it exists today if there was a replacement offered. But this ballot question simply dumps the idea of some sort of universal basic achievement level to be attached to a diploma.
When high school graduates move to the next portion of their lives they will be tested all the time. Whether they go to college or take up a trade - they will need to pass test after test in order to move into the careers of their choice.
And (thanks for getting me started! :)
I would hope the MCAS or whatever they call the thing includes a whole bunch of REAL history and CIVICs. I also think that the school year is too short. Nobody needs the kids to plow the fields or bring in the harvest anymore. School should be all year - one week off per quarter, maybe. And...I would pay teachers a lot more and test THEM more. What profession could be more important? What do you think?
Great discussion here. I agree with you, Bill. But Carol's concerns are well-founded. My wife was a teacher-turned-media specialist, and I saw the evolution of the focus on measuring teachers by the standardized test results. It incentivized the wrong things and degraded the overall education. Add to that all the political correctness, the book banning, the parents blaming the teachers for their own failures as parents, and so much more, and I feel sorry for teachers today. Oh, yeah, I forgot about arming them and fortifying their classrooms, and traumatizing kids with mass shooter drills. All we had to worry about was hiding under our desks in the case of nuclear war.
Oh Bill, thanks for getting ME started!
Absolutely agree that some proof of academic achievement is needed. I have a few ideas about how that could be done without massively intimidating, stressful (on students AND educators) standardized tests. Breaking the "testing" up into smaller bites is one idea. This could dial down the stress and if teachers were determined to teach the test, there would still be time for other learning.
Another idea is bringing arts back into curriculums in a BIG way. This isn't a new idea but here's what I've noticed: the arts have critical thinking and logic BAKED IN.
Four years ago at the age of 60 I achieved a BFA. To finish that degree I had to do one last semester at the "mother ship" university which was some miles from the art school. That semester was an eye opener. Many of my classmates were in the forensic sciences and quite a few were juniors and seniors. I was shocked to discover many whose logical and critical thinking wasn't just underdeveloped, it was very nearly absent! However, not a single one of my ART school classmates, regardless of academic disinterest, lacked critical thinking skills and the ability to follow a logic trail. Obviously there are exceptions but I believe studies which require a physical work product have much to recommend . And the amount of history required (loads!) for a BFA also lends itself to a keener understanding of cause and effect.
Admittedly, I'm biased. Not everyone can or wants to go to art school. But I think STEAM with an emphasis on the "A" plus lots of history taught by good teachers would help immensely. If students LEARN more and gain the ability to cross pollinate studies, testing wouldn't need to be such an additional, time consuming quest.
Great share!!
Having been a former and long time resident of Florida, I think they are going to remain red…unfortunately…especially after this latest Hurricane. The message of “send us your best and brightest” has been muffled from America’s hang low appendage. Not to mention the baked in state legislation for voter suppression is just as baked in as it was during the hanging chad years.
I hope I am wrong…but hope is such a poor platform for planning.
You are probably right. What gives me hope is twofold.
First, we spend enormous amounts of time planning for things that never happen.
As someone once said "Worry and Fear are useless emotions".
I know, easy to say.
But second, nothing that has happened to me personally or beyond was anything I would have predicted. Not who I would marry, not any of my jobs or where I would live. All completely and totally not in any of my plans. Not who would become president either. Bush the drunken pilot? Obama...black with the name Hussein?
Fear is not just an emotion. When managed with the proper training it’s a tool for function. Any combat veteran should tell you this. Any trained warrior who claims no fear or to be fearless should themselves be feared and seriously be doubted about their other dimensions for humanity. Like empathy. There’s a fine but distinct line between killer and warrior. Fear draws that line.
I respect your enthusiasm by reading every word you write.
Have you ever felt like you have had a chance to get a sneak peek at the future, but in the distance and through the fence you can see people still standing in line to see what you just saw? Do you yell out the spoiler and break the rule of being complaisant.
I just want to be wrong. That was my birthday wish this year.
I also should have mentioned more context as a former Floridian, having also seen the sausage being made as a former GOP gubernatorial appointee. Unless DIMS are able to remove the GOP legislative and legal foot on the scales in Florida, red will always be the new orange in this state.
Interesting. I'll have to pay more attention to the Public Questions on NJ's ballots. Yours sound more like non-binding survey questions. In NJ, I believe most relate to constitutional amendments or bond issues, and I believe the votes are binding. I found one from a couple of years ago though that amended the constitution to allow the legislature to consider certain legislation, a kinda two-step process.
Re: voter turnout and GOTV, I don't understand why some voters, particularly Democrats, don't see voting as both an inviolate right and a civic responsibility. And yet, they'll be more than happy to complain about the election outcome or the condition of the country that results. I'll repeat my mantra 'til I'm BLUE in the face: A massive BLUE WAVE can wash away the toxic RED TIDE!
I have been an advocate for automatic voter registration. Could be when we are born or when we get a SS card - but automatically activates when we turn 18. Then we would be required to vote. Penalties could be small (in Australia I believe it is $25). Could be tied to getting a driver's license or any kind of license. Could be that you couldn't buy alcohol or pot :)
The five questions listed here are binding. We have had non-binding questions in the past. But I believe that these override the legislature.
Thank you for sending!! We did receive the State Election Ballot Questions - Information For Voters.
"Florida Woman" for President! That’s a great photograph!
Great work Bill. Ballotpedia is an outstanding resource, almost a Cliff's Notes for those of us who don't have time during the rest of our lives to stay up to date on every issue.
Missouri is fortunate to have citizen's initiative access to all aspects of governance, but our legislators have worked hard to circumvent changes they don't like. 6 years ago the Clean Missouri amendment passed overwhelmingly to, among other things, limit gerrymandering and lobbying bribery to legislators. Two years later, after an intense campaign by the largely Republican legislature and governor, thanks to some very creative ballot language, those same voters repealed the amendment. The lesson was well learned, and this year, Amendment 3 which is the freedom of choice amendment will most likely pass by a substantial margin and minimize the loss of freedom and potential loss of life caused by the existing ban on medical termination of pregnancy.
Haven't gotten our sample ballot yet, it's a long one and it will be a long day at the polls but, in the end, well worth the effort.