Open letter to Arne Duncan from Chicago teachers by Valerie Strauss

Dear Mr. Duncan,

As primary, secondary, and university educators who are passionate about the importance of a liberal arts education in building and maintaining a democratic society, we are very concerned with the impact of standardized testing on humanities curricula. The widespread trend of teaching to the test is undermining primary and secondary education. Social studies, history, the fine arts, the study of literatures and languages, drama and music; these and other subjects not assessed in the standardized tests of “No Child Left Behind” are subjects that are themselves being left behind as administrators pressure teachers to raise narrowly-conceived test scores in a few core areas.

We seek to build respect for the democratic process, critical thinking skills, writing skills, and understanding that is not accurately measured in multiple-choice tests (read The Case against High-Stakes Testing). While we see the Common Core Curriculum as a step in the right direction, we steadfastly reject attempts pushed by testing companies to devise standardized assessments to measure progress in reading, writing, and speaking. Nor do we believe that computer programs currently being developed by major assessment corporations, or any form of outsourcing of essay assessments, are viable solutions.

Instead of relying on standardized tests, we believe that the best way to pursue higher standards in reading, writing, and speaking skills is to develop standardized and widely-accepted rubrics for assessment and allow teachers to assess their students with these rubrics. We are very concerned with the extent to which current educational policies have embraced what John Dewey would call “instrumental rationality” in seeking solutions that can be statistically measured. We are currently seeing a national backlash against such measurements from parents, teachers, and administrators. These statistical measures merely confirm the very real social gaps between the haves and the have-nots in American education (for a review, read The Widening Academic Achievement Gap between the Rich and the Poor:  New Evidence and Possible Explanations).

University administrators have known for some time that high SAT scores correlate closely with socioeconomic class. Students who do well on them may succeed more frequently in college than those who do not, but this correlation may be telling us more about the test than about the students. Secondary teachers often see students who are terrific at taking tests, but who choose to avoid tasks requiring difficult thinking. University educators want students who can write, research, and think: students who are open minded, passionate, and curious. These qualities are snuffed out under the drive for high scores on standardized multiple-choice tests under “No Child Left Behind.”

Secondary educators want to prepare students for the challenges that they will face at colleges and universities. This is difficult to do when an overemphasis on discrete item standardized testing prevents them from engaging their students in the meaningful work that best prepares them for the next level.

We know that your office is bombarded with lobbyists from major testing companies, textbook companies, and big donors with big money who seek to shape education reform. State Boards of Education are faced with similar pressures. We feel strongly that big money is far too invested in the current debate, and we are concerned that their influence is determining much of what passes for “reform.” Put your faith in teachers rather than corporate interests to assess reading, writing, and speaking. Do not allow corporations to control American education.

We invite further discussion at your convenience. A delegation from among the signees below will be happy to meet you for hoops and a discussion.

Sincerely yours,

New Trier High School: Lindsey Arado, Mike Baeb, Kerry Brennan, Ian Duell, David Hjelmgren, Tim Kajfez, Tom Kucharski, Debbie Johnson, Todd Maxman, Dean Pinos, John O’Connor, Alex Zilka; Northern Illinois University: Jerome D. Bowers, History Dept.; University of Illinois-Chicago: Robert Johnston, History Dept.; Concord Review: Will Fitzhugh, Editor and Publisher; The Report Card: William Korach, Editor and Publisher; University of Chicago Laboratory Schools: Luicija Ambrosini, Allen Ambrosini ,Suzanne Baum Charles Branham, Wayne Brasler, Brad Brickner, David Derbes, Steve Granzyk, Lee Gustafson, Paul Horton, Chris Janus, Bob Kass, Mark Krewatch, Andrea Martonffy, Lisa Miller, Rachel Nielsen, Diane Puklin, Emeritus Susan Shapiro, Kelly Storm, Brian Wildeman; Ariel Community Academy: Allie Griffin, Shirley Knox, Jake Sklarsky, Willis Niederfrank; Chicago Teachers Union

from the Washington Post