Are PSSAs Ruining Our Schools?

An opinion piece recently published in the Post-Gazette has created quite the buzz on Facebook.

Kathy Newman, an English professor and mother of a third grader, wrote that she is having her son "opt out" of this year's PSSA because the stressful tests "warp the educational environment." Her son attends Pittsburgh's Linden Elementary School.

We asked our Forest Hill-Regent Square Patch readers on Facebook if they support Newman's decision and what they think of Pennsylvania's standardized tests, and we received a mixed bag of reaction.

Two of the readers support Newman.

"A teacher's, a class', a school's success or failure should not rise or fall on one specific test when there are multiple intelligences," Heidi McDonald wrote.

Another reader understands the mother's reasoning, but doesn't think "opting-out" will do anything unless it becomes a larger movement.

"I understand the sentiment, but sitting out of the test itself doesn't exempt a student from the 'warped educational environment' that pervades schools because of it. In other words, his teachers will still be required to 'teach to the test' whether he takes the test or not!" Morgan Hawkins Drain wrote.

Mike rush had a different view:

"'Teaching to the test' is the fault of the teacher, not the test," he wrote. "The only thing that will make everyone happy is to end the public school system, give the taxpayers back their money and let them decide what is right for their own children."

So what do you think? Will you join the "opt-out" of PSSAs movement? Tell us in the comments below.