I disagree with the Feb. 25 PARCC editorial from the Sun in several areas. Let me point out just two.
The Sun’s sub-headline says: “Parents shouldn’t encourage kids to not take PARCC test” saying in part: “But the fact is that standard testing has been around for decades, and PARCC is just the newest.”
The Sun appears to justify a brand new, unvalidated, and not yet credible PARCC test by comparing it to an established and widely accepted test, the SAT.
The Sun says: “Well, ‘we’ are testing them, just like ‘we’ have in the past.”
The SAT test was developed in 1926 and has established its validation and credibility over time. The SAT has also adapted itself with the evolution of education.
Today, major colleges and universities accept SAT and even require SAT testing. But, not even one major Philadelphia college or university recognizes PARCC. (Source: www.parcconline.org/sites/parcc/files/PARCCParticipating_Postsecondary_Institutions.pdf)
PARCC has no equal credibility or validation (as SAT) and the fact that so much “training” of educators and students just to take the test presents a reason for parents to say “no.”
I have researched PARCC and seen an example PARCC math question whose answer of 1/4 was marked wrong because PARCC claimed the only correct answer is 2/8. Can PARCC spell LCD?
Second Point: The Sun’s “opinion” also states: “Sometimes in life, we have to do what we don’t want to do and don’t agree with doing.”
Does The Sun know that a majority (27) of states chose to not participate in PARCC? And as of today, 13 of the 23 states that initially joined PARCC have now withdrawn support and participation.
Only 10 states of our 50 are in PARCC as of Feb. 25. (Source: PARCC Wikipedia)
Does The Sun oppose the overwhelming majority of 40 states who “…don’t agree with doing?”
We now know The Sun’s opinion…but, have we heard our local Board of Education members state in public their “opinion” of this brand new and not yet credible PARCC test? Why not?
Until there are open and complete discussions of the merits of PARCC, I will agree with and support parents who just say “no” — and remove their children from testing. And on this point, I support the NJEA who asks: “What are we doing to our kids?”
My opinion: “Parents…do not permit your children to take the 2015 PARCC test.”
Ron Richards
