tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-405489505661198992.post7874390766042329512..comments2023-09-23T04:24:21.355-04:00Comments on Smoking Toward New Jersey: Education Is None of Our BusinessTamar Wyschogrodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16753681671510193847noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-405489505661198992.post-37749623133283309902013-05-15T08:45:42.754-04:002013-05-15T08:45:42.754-04:00I used to be a teacher of Special Education. I was...I used to be a teacher of Special Education. I was expected to get my kids up to the same standards as the rest of the school to meet "AYP" - Adequate Yearly Progress. These were high school students who needed their DIPLOMA to graduate; a diploma held hostage by test scores. Working with another teacher, we got our kids from the "Failing" level to the "Needs Improvement" level, only to be shot down by the Assistant Superintendent who wanted us to get them to the "Proficient" level. I miss teaching students but do not miss the stress of teaching to a test and throwing creativity out the window.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13760939388151814072noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-405489505661198992.post-66433044945579389712013-05-15T06:27:30.458-04:002013-05-15T06:27:30.458-04:00Wonderful piece of writing, thank you from the bot...Wonderful piece of writing, thank you from the bottom of my teacher's heart. I will share this on Facebook.<br />I would add one more point to you final paragraph. The big test producing companies, (ie, Pearson) also produce and sell textbooks for thousands of dollars. And each time they update the test, they update the books, and then come in to convince the school system that it "must" have the new materials in order to prepare for the new test. It is an endless loop of profit for them, and we are forced to consume their products.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com