Post by Moses on Mar 4, 2005 0:13:01 GMT -5
Student Takes on Ohio Testing System
John Wood was in seventh grade when he first decided that, on principle, he didn't want to take the state-mandated ninth-grade proficiency test.
"Basically, I believe that standardized tests on this level are irrelevant, biased and unnecessary," explained Wood, 17, a student in the Federal Hocking Local School District.
At the time, his decision didn't have much immediate impact on his academic career. But with the last officially scheduled testing date of the school year coming up next week, Wood -- now a senior at Federal Hocking High School -- knows that if he refuses to take the test this time, he'll essentially be kissing his high-school diploma goodbye.
An "emergency" testing period is also available in May, for seniors who have not passed all the sections of the test and want to graduate. (Students can take it repeatedly until they pass.) However, Wood has no plans to show up on either occasion.
And so, in accordance with state and federal law, this articulate student who's near the top of his class will not be graduating from high school.
Among other impacts, this will mean that he can't enroll at a public college such as Ohio University, or get federally funded financial aid. Fortunately for Wood, his excellent academic record, combined with some detailed explanations of his situation on college entrance applications, already has gotten him accepted to two private colleges in Virginia and North Carolina.
Wood's act of protest already has drawn the attention of the New York Times, which mentioned him in an article on an 11-year-old Texas student who took a similar stand, and National Public Radio, with whom Wood was getting ready for an interview Tuesday when he spoke to The Athens NEWS.
In sticking to his guns, Wood benefits from the support of his father, George Wood, who just happens to be a vocal critic of high-stakes proficiency testing, as well as the principal of the high school, and his mother, who is a teacher. But Wood and his father agree that it was the younger Wood's own decision to boycott the testing.
"Obviously, every child's influenced by their parents' belief systems," John Wood admitted. "But I was never directed to this course of action by my parents." He admits, however, that he's had a little difficulty convincing some of his classmates of this.
"It's just a common misunderstanding that I've had to deal with, with a lot of my peers," he said.
George Wood recounted Tuesday how his son came to him in the seventh grade, and asked what he thought in general terms of the state's required proficiency testing. After discussing the issue, John announced his intention to refuse the testing.
"I said, well, that's your decision," George Wood recalled, adding that he urged his son to be sure he understood the implications of his choice, including the fact that it would deny him a high-school diploma. Though he always half expected his son to reconsider his decision, the educator added, that never happened. And given his own position on the evils of high-stakes testing, he's proud of John's stand, and hopes it will help generate some publicity on the issue, and maybe push state officials to rethink their policies.
He added that state universities like OU might want to take notice that an academically gifted and independent-minded student like his son has been barred from their institution by state law. "I think they'll have missed out on a pretty sharp kid," he said. "It's their loss."
In the short term, John Wood's aim is to get an answer out of the Ohio State Board of Education on why he and other students can't be allowed to take some alternative route, rather than standardized testing, to show that they're qualified to graduate. "Why don't we get rid of the testing, and give (that decision) back to the schools?" he asked.
He noted that as a Federal Hocking senior, he has taken part in a 100-hour senior project, which involved putting together an extensive portfolio and writing numerous papers. He also cited a report to the state Board of Education by the state Task Force on Quality High Schools, which recommended offering alternatives to testing.
Wood and his teachers at Fed Hock High School have written letters to members of the state school board, asking them to consider waiving the testing requirements for Wood, and urging them to adopt alternatives to testing as a graduation standard.
J.C. Benton of the Department of Education said Wednesday that the board will respond to the letters, but pointed out that to allow testing alternatives, for one or all students, would require legislative action, and is not a decision the board can make.
The student pointed out that not all students have the luxury he has of refusing the test and thus their diploma, knowing they have been accepted to private school and have the resources to attend. Therefore, he said, he wants the system to change for all students, and hopes his making a stand will help make that happen.
"I'm not doing this for myself," he said.
Wood also has the admiration, if not the active support, of Federal Hocking Supt. Jim Patsey, who called him "an excellent student" and "a wonderful kid." Patsey said Wood clearly has support for his position among the high-school teaching staff and other students.
"I think everybody understands what he's doing," Patsey said. "I think it's unfortunate that he's not going to get a diploma, but he certainly understands what he's doing." As for the proficiency tests, Patsey readily admitted, "I'm not thrilled with them, either." He said his district has tried hard to avoid doing what many districts do, which is to "teach to the test," focusing on getting students ready to pass it rather than giving them a well-rounded education.
No one, including John Wood, seems in the slightest doubt that he could pass the test with ease if he took it. But "if I was to do that, I wouldn't be making much of a statement any more, would I?" he asked.
J.C. Benton of the Ohio Department of Education confirmed that the state board has received letters about Wood's case, and is going to answer them. Benton made clear, however, that there's no chance that Wood will get a waiver from the testing. To allow one or every student in Ohio to graduate without passing the proficiency test, he said, would require a new law to be passed by the Ohio General Assembly.
— Jim Phillips
Athens News
2005-03-03
John Wood was in seventh grade when he first decided that, on principle, he didn't want to take the state-mandated ninth-grade proficiency test.
"Basically, I believe that standardized tests on this level are irrelevant, biased and unnecessary," explained Wood, 17, a student in the Federal Hocking Local School District.
At the time, his decision didn't have much immediate impact on his academic career. But with the last officially scheduled testing date of the school year coming up next week, Wood -- now a senior at Federal Hocking High School -- knows that if he refuses to take the test this time, he'll essentially be kissing his high-school diploma goodbye.
An "emergency" testing period is also available in May, for seniors who have not passed all the sections of the test and want to graduate. (Students can take it repeatedly until they pass.) However, Wood has no plans to show up on either occasion.
And so, in accordance with state and federal law, this articulate student who's near the top of his class will not be graduating from high school.
Among other impacts, this will mean that he can't enroll at a public college such as Ohio University, or get federally funded financial aid. Fortunately for Wood, his excellent academic record, combined with some detailed explanations of his situation on college entrance applications, already has gotten him accepted to two private colleges in Virginia and North Carolina.
Wood's act of protest already has drawn the attention of the New York Times, which mentioned him in an article on an 11-year-old Texas student who took a similar stand, and National Public Radio, with whom Wood was getting ready for an interview Tuesday when he spoke to The Athens NEWS.
In sticking to his guns, Wood benefits from the support of his father, George Wood, who just happens to be a vocal critic of high-stakes proficiency testing, as well as the principal of the high school, and his mother, who is a teacher. But Wood and his father agree that it was the younger Wood's own decision to boycott the testing.
"Obviously, every child's influenced by their parents' belief systems," John Wood admitted. "But I was never directed to this course of action by my parents." He admits, however, that he's had a little difficulty convincing some of his classmates of this.
"It's just a common misunderstanding that I've had to deal with, with a lot of my peers," he said.
George Wood recounted Tuesday how his son came to him in the seventh grade, and asked what he thought in general terms of the state's required proficiency testing. After discussing the issue, John announced his intention to refuse the testing.
"I said, well, that's your decision," George Wood recalled, adding that he urged his son to be sure he understood the implications of his choice, including the fact that it would deny him a high-school diploma. Though he always half expected his son to reconsider his decision, the educator added, that never happened. And given his own position on the evils of high-stakes testing, he's proud of John's stand, and hopes it will help generate some publicity on the issue, and maybe push state officials to rethink their policies.
He added that state universities like OU might want to take notice that an academically gifted and independent-minded student like his son has been barred from their institution by state law. "I think they'll have missed out on a pretty sharp kid," he said. "It's their loss."
In the short term, John Wood's aim is to get an answer out of the Ohio State Board of Education on why he and other students can't be allowed to take some alternative route, rather than standardized testing, to show that they're qualified to graduate. "Why don't we get rid of the testing, and give (that decision) back to the schools?" he asked.
He noted that as a Federal Hocking senior, he has taken part in a 100-hour senior project, which involved putting together an extensive portfolio and writing numerous papers. He also cited a report to the state Board of Education by the state Task Force on Quality High Schools, which recommended offering alternatives to testing.
Wood and his teachers at Fed Hock High School have written letters to members of the state school board, asking them to consider waiving the testing requirements for Wood, and urging them to adopt alternatives to testing as a graduation standard.
J.C. Benton of the Department of Education said Wednesday that the board will respond to the letters, but pointed out that to allow testing alternatives, for one or all students, would require legislative action, and is not a decision the board can make.
The student pointed out that not all students have the luxury he has of refusing the test and thus their diploma, knowing they have been accepted to private school and have the resources to attend. Therefore, he said, he wants the system to change for all students, and hopes his making a stand will help make that happen.
"I'm not doing this for myself," he said.
Wood also has the admiration, if not the active support, of Federal Hocking Supt. Jim Patsey, who called him "an excellent student" and "a wonderful kid." Patsey said Wood clearly has support for his position among the high-school teaching staff and other students.
"I think everybody understands what he's doing," Patsey said. "I think it's unfortunate that he's not going to get a diploma, but he certainly understands what he's doing." As for the proficiency tests, Patsey readily admitted, "I'm not thrilled with them, either." He said his district has tried hard to avoid doing what many districts do, which is to "teach to the test," focusing on getting students ready to pass it rather than giving them a well-rounded education.
No one, including John Wood, seems in the slightest doubt that he could pass the test with ease if he took it. But "if I was to do that, I wouldn't be making much of a statement any more, would I?" he asked.
J.C. Benton of the Ohio Department of Education confirmed that the state board has received letters about Wood's case, and is going to answer them. Benton made clear, however, that there's no chance that Wood will get a waiver from the testing. To allow one or every student in Ohio to graduate without passing the proficiency test, he said, would require a new law to be passed by the Ohio General Assembly.
— Jim Phillips
Athens News
2005-03-03