May 02 2009
English language learners are doing better
Standardized tests prove nothing. All they show is how a student tests. Retention of knowledge, effectiveness of teachers, and ability to think are not shown on standardized tests.
However, there is a standardized test that English language learners take in California - the California English Language Development Test. This year, 39% of the students taking it scored advanced or early advanced on the test. This is compared to 36% of the takers who scored in those categories last year.
What does this mean? Does it mean that teachers are more effective in teching English language learners? Certainly not. In order to show that there would have to be a test that shows the level of each child entering the classroom, and a level when they end with the teacher. The difference would be how motivated the student is to learn, how quickly the student learns, and how well the teacher can communicate ideas to the children. Nothing would measure simply the effectiveness of the teacher.
But regardless, for the moment, children have to take the standardized tests. Showing an improvement means that the teachers are doing a better job preparing the students for a standardized test - which isn’t something that should be applauded. Teaching means teaching children logical thinking, some basic facts, and instilling a drive and love of learning in children so that they want to learn. Good teachers are hard to come by, and have a hard time doing what they want to do - teach - because of all these standardized tests.
However, at the moment, it is a good sign that more English language learners are doing well on the test.
