A view of standardized testing in Florida, from a student who had to deal with it.

Do you remember sitting in your class, learning about how to pass the FCAT? I do. It was awful. We had to learn processes and tricks for passing a test that didn't really measure how we could comprehend different subjects. It touched on various things, didn't go into depth and was so touch-and-go that anyone with basic comprehension could pass, but that wasn't what was bad.

What was the worst about this test was that our lessons took a turn away from things that could really spark our interests and curved into the boring world of learning how to pass standardized testing. I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who really get a thrill from filling in those little bubbles with nicely sharpened No. 2 pencils, but I remember taking them in middle school and hardly any of us enjoyed it. Ditto for every other standardized test.

My favorite parts of the tests were the reading portions. Not because they were easier for me, but because they were slightly interesting. Thinking about it, I just pulled up a third grade FCAT sample and read through it, answering the questions as I went. Ugh. Granted, I did really well, but I could tell the exact questions I would have problems with, were I to take this back when I was in third grade. (They were mostly math questions without hints as to how to solve them; you just had to know what formula or procedure was used for that type of question.)

I was lucky. FCAT testing didn't go into effect in elementary schools until after I was out of there, but we did do Florida Writes. I've always liked writing, but writing like that was torturous. Of course, that's the type of writing that gives you a good hint as to how to write a basic report in middle school and even high school (if your teacher didn't care too much), but it's strictly awful. Beginning, middle, end. Bam, bam, bam. And every final paragraph ended with something like, "and that's..."
...why I would like to become an astronaut.
...how grades are important.
...why you should always eat your vegetables.
...how violence on TV affects kids in school.

You could get either an expository or a persuasive type of prompt and then have to write about it in a way that was clear and concise without too many grammatical errors. Florida public school students still do this in the fourth, eighth and tenth grades. I hated it and I have always liked writing. Heck, I even liked writing reports, but I STILL hated doing the Florida Writes tests. I know I always did well, but I still hate them. To this day.

I hated the classes where we sat, learning how to plan for these "essays." I hated the predictable way in which you had to write these monstrous pieces of expository/persuasive drivel. ...I guess that's just a personality flaw on my part.

Ugh.
The reason all this hatred and these unpleasant memories are being stirred up in my head is because our lovely new governor, Rick Scott, is "anxious" to sign new legislation to base teacher pay on student performance, to be measured by standarized testing. I don't know about you, but I knew plenty of kids who struggled through regular lessons just to pass the FCAT because they had to. Something clicked and they got through. But, afterwards, they were right back to their disruptive and "say no to learning" ways. It in no way reflected the way our teachers taught, because the students who wanted to learn and the ones who were at least open to learning were doing well, but the ones who refused (obviously) weren't performing. AND THEY DIDN'T CARE!!!

I know now that this is somewhat a reflection of their home situations. Most kids can't just leave home at home; it doesn't work that way. If their parent(s)/guardian/grandma doesn't care, then why should the kid?

"Why you teachers always calling me about my kid? When he at school, he your problem! Deal with it!"

I just don't understand how this should factor into the pay of a Florida public school teacher. Oh, and did I mention that these poor Florida teachers have some of the lowest pay grades in the nation, compared to teachers in other states? No? Well it's true. How is threatening to cut their pay because the children of today are dealing with awful examples and terrible home lives going to help? It's not.

Something tells me that the stress of this added pressure is going to be a big issue. And the kids of Florida are going to suffer because the teachers will be suffering even more.