Florida mother has to prove her dying son can't take a standardized test

[eridani]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/07/1275853/-Florida-mother-has-to-prove-her-dying-son-can-t-take-a-standardized-test

There can be not a shred of doubt that the mania for standardized testing has gone too far: As her son lies dying, a Florida mother is being forced to prove that he shouldn't have to take the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. Ethan Rediske had to take a version of the test last year, despite being blind and having cerebral palsy and brain damage. This year, his mother Andrea writes:

Ethan is dying. He has been in hospice care for the past month. We are in the last days of his life. His loving and dedicated teacher, Jennifer Rose has been visiting him every day, bringing some love, peace, and light into these last days. How do we know that he knows that she is there? Because he opens his eyes and gives her a little smile. He is content and comforted after she leaves.

Jennifer is the greatest example of what a dedicated teacher should be. About a week ago, Jennifer hesitantly told me that the district required a medical update for continuation of the med waiver for the adapted FCAT. Apparently, my communication through her that he was in hospice wasn’t enough: they required a letter from the hospice company to say that he was dying. Every day that she comes to visit, she is required to do paperwork to document his “progress.” Seriously? Why is Ethan Rediske not meeting his 6th-grade hospital homebound curriculum requirements? BECAUSE HE IS IN A MORPHINE COMA. We expect him to go any day. He is tenaciously clinging to life.

Seriously. This is a thing. And Andrea Rediske isn't fighting to keep Ethan from having to take a test he can't take, she's fighting to keep his teacher from being penalized for him not taking it. This is not just an isolated case, either. Florida also made a boy born without a full brain, just a brain stem, take a standardized test. New York sent someone to a hospital to administer a test to a boy in for screening for brain surgery.

[Demeter]

1. Because the factory model of education has taken pernicious root in this nation

All children are widgets, interchangeable, all to be subjected to the same standards of QC, and all to be rejected as "imperfect" in the end.

It's so totally ass-backwards, and the teachers complied, the parents didn't protest, the principals didn't kick up a fuss, and their unions didn't fight. And here we are.


Sometimes I think it would be a great blessing to get government out of the schools entirely....attach an equal number of dollars to each child eligible, and let them congregate as they will. If a facility goes in for the different style of student, attach an additional amount per institution and per child attending.

But that would be life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! That would be change and chaos!

That would actually work to educate each child to the fullest extent possible, and that would be the goal.

Not to turn out identical flawed widgets, suitable for cannon fodder, slave labor, and fascism.

[narnian60]

2. Total and utter insanity. nt

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. I saw this online somewhere during the week and thought about posting it here.

But it seemed more appropriate to the Science Fiction forum.

( If we have one.)

Like most of what's happened to public education the Obama-Duncan era.

[championofreason]

4. This is sickening

How could anyone think that this is ok?

[mackerel]

5. They know this kind of info will get out there.

Why are they so hell bent on embarrassing themselves.