MONTGOMERYVILLE PA. – March 11, 2008 – Are standardized tests failing our children? In the name of accountability, are we cheating them out of creative teaching that inspires a lifelong love of learning? A town meeting for interested Bucks and Montgomery county community members on Thursday, March 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Upper Merion Middle School, 450 Keebler Road, King of Prussia, will create a dialogue to address those questions.
The town meeting, sponsored by Council for the Advancement of Public Schools (CAPS), will provide a forum for audience members to voice their opinions and share their views with panelists representing administrators, teachers, legislators, parents and community members from across Bucks and Montgomery counties. It will focus on the ramifications of increased high-stakes testing and how to offer each student the opportunity to reach his or her intellectual capacity.
Participants will learn about the current No Child Left Behind law and state testing requirements and why changes are needed to effectively assess students on their individual growth and achievements.
The public discussion will be moderated by Tracey Matisak, award-winning journalist and a member of WHYY’s News and Public Affairs team. Panelists include Caroline Allen, president, Pennsylvania Parent Teacher Association; Nick Ciasullo, retired principal, Bristol Township School District; Rep. Daylin Leach, PA House of Representatives; Abraham Lo, teacher, Wissahickon High School; Jerry Oleksiak, special education teacher now serving as Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) treasurer; and Scott Parks, director, Bucks County Technical High School.
While we all support having strong accountability standards, increased testing has far-reaching consequences, both on today’s students as well as on future generations,” said Jim Sando, who heads up the CAPS’ workgroup. “Because of high-stakes testing and the pressure that often surrounds it, many children are no longer partaking in enriching experiences simply for the pure joy of learning–experiences that teach them how to explore options, problem-solve and make decisions on their own. We encourage all community members to attend the meeting and get involved in this important issue.”
The meeting is free and open to the public; registration is requested. Call 1-800-492-2727 during business hours. You can also log on to www.FriendsOfPublicEd.org for more details and directions.
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