Readicide

Chapter 1 of “Readicide” by Gallagher.

Summary: This chapter discusses how teachers only teach to the test and do not go into depth with the information. Teaching to the test is harmful because shallow teaching occurs and students who struggle continue to struggle and their needs are not met. The reason teachers teach this way is because if students do not pass these tests, they will not pass the class and the teacher or school would be considered a place where they do not teach well enough.

            While reading this chapter, I remembered what we had talked about during class about teaching to the test and the vocabulary exercise we did in class. I began getting upset hearing about teachers only teaching to the test because they are harming the students learning. I understand that it is not the teachers fault; they are just trying to do as they are told. But the government that issues these laws, tests, and mandates needs to realize that their methods are hindering children’s learning. Obviously if student’s scores have become worse since the laws have been in place, then they were not good and are not working. The people making these laws do not have a large amount of knowledge in education and I think that the teachers should have more say in what goes on. They are the ones that see the students first hand and know what is best for teaching and specifically what works for the students that they are teaching. In addition, how the tests are made up cause the students to not have to think about the information and they are just learning information for the test but not having to think or use skills that are common in the work force or just in everyday life. The Texas miracle vs. Texas mirage makes me wonder how reliable national test scores really are. If there is cheating going on and schools making sure only the smart students take the test, test scores are not going to be accurate at all. I feel like that is always going on with tests and people are just not aware of it.