Tick TAKS Test (TAKS could be banned in Texas)

[mother of 3 girls]

I believe the TAKS test should GO!!!! The schools spend so much time and energy teaching to the TEST they are not teaching anymore. They are just memorizing these test. When your children come home and you can't even help your kids with their homework because they have changed it sooo much since you have been out of school -- theres a problem. We have a sophmore, 5th grader and a 3rd greader. Our 10th grader (who is a A-B student) comes home this year and tells us she has failed the TAKS test for the 1st time in her life and she was devastated to say the least. Then the other 2 have a reading learning disabilty. BOTH OF THEM failed their taks test - had to attend summer school which we just learn they failed again. Now we a waiting to find out what will happen now!!! IF ITS NOT BROCK DON'T TRY TO FIX IT!!!!

[mother of 3 girls]

confused wrote:

The Lawmakers need to feel pressure to produce because if we are going to allow students who have not succesfully completed the requirements and now they are being permitted to walk which is an earned priviledge ,we don't need a TAKS test, let them walk, better yet,let them choose if they want to attend class or not. To make things even better when they come to school allow them place cards around their desk stating, "do not distrub, I don't want to listen, I will not participate,nor will I be bothered,I will get to walk even if I never pass TASKS."We don't have any standards anymore and this is disappointing and disgusting.Parents,do you have any more unreasonable request? KISD Board of Trustees will do whatever you want. They should direct teachers to pass all students and require nothing just provide a name and ID number so we can record your A's or B's, tell us what grade to record.

Do you have kids??? I spent all 13years in Texas schools 13 includes kinder.too. and graduated from high school. we didn't have to pass anything but our classes and end of year exams!!!! We didn't have this crap where you had to pass TAKS or TAAS or any other test -- thats when TEACHERS really taught the 3 R's not just to the test like they do now.

[mother of 3 girls]

Oh sorry misspelled a few thing on the last comment -- NO ONE IS PERFECT except ONE

[took a test and lived]

You have to take a test to get into college.
You have to take a test to drive.
You have to take a test to get a job.
See a pattern???? Its life, kids now days are so spoiled... ohhhh you have a learning disability?? You can't read, write, or talk? Wake up. Little Timmy was born with no legs but he walks!!! Imagine that. I took the test it’s not hard! I’m not a doctor, I didn’t graduate at the top of my class, but I did what I had to do to make it. I didn’t complain, I just did what I was told to do. Put your mind to something and you can do it with hard work and support. Teachers work their butts off to help kids pass that test, kids let it go out the other ear. That’s why im not a teacher it takes a special kind of person to put up with teaching. With all the tests and kids that are lazy and blame a "learning disorder" they have a hard job.

[ehs student]

took a test and lived wrote:

You have to take a test to get into college.
You have to take a test to drive.
You have to take a test to get a job.
See a pattern???? Its life, kids now days are so spoiled... ohhhh you have a learning disability?? You can't read, write, or talk? Wake up. Little Timmy was born with no legs but he walks!!! Imagine that. I took the test it’s not hard! I’m not a doctor, I didn’t graduate at the top of my class, but I did what I had to do to make it. I didn’t complain, I just did what I was told to do. Put your mind to something and you can do it with hard work and support. Teachers work their butts off to help kids pass that test, kids let it go out the other ear. That’s why im not a teacher it takes a special kind of person to put up with teaching. With all the tests and kids that are lazy and blame a "learning disorder" they have a hard job.

There are kids out there with real learning disabilities dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, plus the mentaly retarded. Furthermore not all teachers work their butts off and all students aren't lazy, there are teachers that cuss and there are kids with jobs. I took the test and got commended performance on all of them so tell me more about these "lazy" kids that "let it go out the other ear".

[took a test and lived]

ehs student wrote:

<quoted text>
There are kids out there with real learning disabilities dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, plus the mentaly retarded. Furthermore not all teachers work their butts off and all students aren't lazy, there are teachers that cuss and there are kids with jobs. I took the test and got commended performance on all of them so tell me more about these "lazy" kids that "let it go out the other ear".

Ohhhhh I see It all makes sense now...thank you for making that clear to me....You must have been one of the kids that sat in the front of the class and got picked on all the time huh? Poor thing....Now you tell me when you took the test how many "mentally retarded" kids where in there with you?? Hmm none WHY???? Because that my friend is a PROBLEM, a DISORDER something that you can’t fake at the doctors office, take a couple of tests that you know you can pass but don’t because you don’t want to work. That is something that can not be helped. You’re so ignorant; all high school kids need to have jobs. It teaches them to be grown ups. So they won’t be in shock after getting out of school. I did it and know look at me I have two wonderful kids, two brand new cars, a brand new house and a job I love going to. I worked for it....you can see all the people that "claim" they had a learning disorder at the welfare office trying to get a handout. After all they can't work they have dyslexia.

[txauctioneer]

First, I'll agree that there should not be any TAAS, TASK, TAKS or whatever nomenclature they use today.

However, all of this talk about what you're parents had to do or didn't have to do, doesn't have any credibility to the reasoning. This is because, your parents went to school and were required to learn the subject matter and if their answers were wrong, they found a big red X on their paper and the teacher wasn't afraid of hurting their feelings if they deserved an "F", and if they didn't get passing grades, they FAILED and had to go through that grade again... and again, until they PASSED.

Your parents were required to learn the subject matter! They didn't come up with a lot of "syndromes" to explain away one's difficulties or disinterest, as may often be the real culprit.
I was an instructor for a corporation for over 12 years. It is amazing that most young adults, with a 2-year degree from a Jr. College, still can't spell or properly formulate a sentence. They don't know the difference between then/than, no/know/now, there/their/they're and any number of other examples, nor do they know where or when to use a comma or a period.

This is a result of our "feel-good" society and the level of education that is being allowed. I have had meetings with teachers, counselors and principals and I was the demanding that MY child be required to repeat the grade, because he did not make passing grades. They all wanted to let him go to the next grade, so it didn't hurt his self-respect.

You EARN self-respect! It isn't granted to you. And this applies when you step out into the REAL WORLD and find that nobody is going to hire you to make you feel good.

So, you think you have a learning disability? Fine... there are all sorts of programs to help you. It's NEVER "too late." And if you have to work harder than others, then accept that, and work harder. You'll earn much more respect and someone might just give a chance to prove yourself, because you are willing to do whatever it takes.

You get "stressed out" over taking a test? Get over it. If you spent the time and effort to learn the material that was taught, then you will have less stress when taking the test. You're no different than the straight A student, as they feel "stress" also, in their desire to maintain their high grades. So, you're not a straight A student... it doesn't matter, as long as you know you have put forth the effort to do your best. If you don't quite make it, then study more and/or get some tutoring and then do it again, until you do make it. Effort is all it takes and no one, but you, gets anything from it. And no one can take that from you.

continued in next post...

[txauctioneer]

My complete respect goes to those such as, "took a test and lived" (post #87), as this individual has the knowledge needed to make it in life, and will work to get where they're going, no matter what odds they may have to deal with and obstacles that must be overcome.

All of this is coming from one, who is likely old enough to be your parent and possibly your grandparent, who received a GED at the age of 19 and worked twice as hard to move up the corporate ladder, to become an instructor. I now run my own business. I didn't attend a Jr. College until I was 27 and that was only to take a few music classes. I went back when I was in my early 40's and took about 35 hours over the next few years and while I still don't have a degree, you'll find that my education level is likely above most with a bachelor's degree or better. However, it was due to sheer will and determination and my own efforts and desire to learn... not once will you hear me tell you it was easy, but you can do whatever you desire, if you put your mind to the task.

We live in a country, by a Constitution, that states you are allowed to pursue your own happiness. It does NOT say that you are entitled or that others must insure your happiness. That can only be obtained by what you do and overcoming the obstacles by your own efforts and determination. While I don't mind helping someone, I won't do it "for them," as they must be willing to help themselves, first.

So, instead of making excuses, blaming it on a test, a syndrome, stress or anything else... Do something about it, besides complaining and thinking everyone is going to feel sorry for you and just give you all of the good things that they have worked to get for themselves. No one owes you; you only owe it to yourself.

[jkl1234]

theres no need for us to take the taks test in order to graduate because its hard to learn and keep up with the work the teachers give and teach us and then remember the stuff for taks. A lot of people dont get to graduate because of taks even though they are passing all there classes

[txauctioneer]

jkl1234,
It's apparent that you have not quite fulfilled the requirements to graduate. As I pointed out in the previous post, most don't even know where to place a comma or period in a sentence or know the difference between there, their or they're.

So, let's see where the mistakes are:
theres [There's] no need for us to take the taks test in order to graduate[comma] because its[it's] hard to learn and keep up with the work the teachers give and teach us and then remember the stuff for taks [run on sentence structure]. A lot of people dont[don't] get to graduate because of taks[comma] even though they are passing all [of] there[their] classes[period]

And I didn't even consider the proper use of capitals for TAKS.

If you're having a hard time keeping up with the material that is being taught, I hope that you are asking lots of questions in class, making arrangements with your teacher to get additional assistance after school and/or seeking the help of a tutor. Considering the errors in your post, you need to talk to your English teacher, immediately.

Like I said, I'm not in favor of the TAKS test, either. But, only because they spend too much time teaching the test, instead of teaching the normal course material. If you KNOW the material, you shouldn't have a problem with taking ANY test.

[Nurse1988]

We moved to Texas 6 mos ago and have a boy in 5th grade. My husband and I grew up in Texas and thought it provided a great start for college. We did extensive research on the eduacation system here, but were blind-sided by this TAKS test business. My son is an A,B,C student, but has caught on very quickly that it really doesn't matter what you do for a grade throughout the year because it all boils down to passing a TAKS test. If you make good grades and don't pass a reading, math TAKS, then you are held back. THIS IS MADNESS!! What message are we sending to elementary kids that even though you work hard all year and make good grades... it doesn't matter because you have to only focus on these TAKS tests. We are very against this way of thinking and feel it sends the wrong message early on.. It's soo wrong and we will be moving out of the state Christmas Break. I feel bad for the Texas kids! There has to be another way!