NCLB
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From: State of Confusion
Anyway, the boys brought home papers yesterday about the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning) test here in Washington. I went virtually apoplectic, because this test actually makes me angry. Their motto is something like "teaching happens all year, the WASL is only once" and my response is that would be good if they didn't have to start preparing for the WASL almost as soon as the school year begins even though the test isn't until the end of the year. 
They start "practicing" for this test in 3rd grade and have to keep practicing until their senior year. Students have to "pass" the WASL in order to graduate.
While I respect the need to validate that a curriculum is working and that the students are meeting requirements, I think that studying for YEARS for a high school test is patently ridiculous and the time that they spend each and every year (one week out of the year) could be FAR better used to actually TEACH the kids information and skills that they need to live...not trying to pass this standardized test that, IMHO, has only one use...adjusting funding for a school.
I know...I know...I'm rambling and incoherent here...but this test and the process of getting to it just wrankles me!
They start "practicing" for this test in 3rd grade and have to keep practicing until their senior year. Students have to "pass" the WASL in order to graduate.
While I respect the need to validate that a curriculum is working and that the students are meeting requirements, I think that studying for YEARS for a high school test is patently ridiculous and the time that they spend each and every year (one week out of the year) could be FAR better used to actually TEACH the kids information and skills that they need to live...not trying to pass this standardized test that, IMHO, has only one use...adjusting funding for a school.
I know...I know...I'm rambling and incoherent here...but this test and the process of getting to it just wrankles me!
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Pt. A to Pt. B via VTEC!!
Originally Posted by 8D_In_Trunk,Apr 11 2006, 06:47 PM
..........
Oddly, NCLB has been a boondoggle for big business (at least here). In order to meet the testing mandates, The Princeton Review and ESS have lined their pockets quite well. Moreover, the list of approved texts has actually gotten smaller as a result (thus creating an increase in market share for the larger publishers).
........
Oddly, NCLB has been a boondoggle for big business (at least here). In order to meet the testing mandates, The Princeton Review and ESS have lined their pockets quite well. Moreover, the list of approved texts has actually gotten smaller as a result (thus creating an increase in market share for the larger publishers).
........
Our largest competitor (who interestingly, is our largest supplier)
has secured locked in purchase order contracts with our biggest customer (School dis. of Philadelphia) at bid price of 35% off of retail AND free freight. No one in the industry can touch this but them..big business. 
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 88,444
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From: Pt. A to Pt. B via VTEC!!
Well over the weekend we found out our #2 local competitor is closing. .... in the long term...yippee for us..in the short term it will add to confusion...and they were really nice people! 
.... in the long term...yippee for us..in the short term it will add to confusion...and they were really nice people!
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From: SJC
Originally Posted by mikes2k,Oct 2 2006, 02:26 PM
After sex towel?