Does it make sense to freeze a current practice before having a viable alternative in place?
According to the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), when it comes to standardized testing, that answer would appear to be yes - which is troubling. In fact, the organization's call this week for a two-year "moratorium" on standardized testing leaves the impression of something so odious it should be dispensed with immediately. Under this scenario - while "alternative" methods would be studied during the freeze - nothing would happen across the province for two years in terms of gaining insight into the progress of our elementary students and the performance of their instructors. That scenario is simply unacceptable. The simple truth is if one can't measure results at all, one does not improve. Accountability cannot and should not be "frozen".At the elementary level in this province, the current system annually tests Grade 3 and 6 students in reading, writing and mathematics through the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). We're not suggesting it's a perfect system, but what possibly could be? The goal of standardized testing is to have a reasonable common set of standards our students should be attaining in those core areas of learning. There's nothing wrong with that. In addition, this testing constructs a helpful window into areas that need improvement in our schools. Parents and guardians depend on it to keep informed. It's also a useful tool to track progress through the system. It also provides a measure of accountability in the education system. To remove that without due consideration would be foolhardy. There's nothing wrong with striving to improve a process or a method of evaluation. Indeed, that's something that should be taking place currently. We should always be on the lookout for improvements in our education system - not just to testing methods and requirements, but also to areas like teacher training. An inherent challenge behind standardized testing is that you have to have reasonable comparables. Despite suggestions to the contrary, literacy and math are not mutually exclusive from other areas of the curriculum. They form the basis of fundamental skills in myriad of subjects, ones ETFO President Sam Hammond suggests are being "sidelined" in favour of testing in the core areas of literacy and math.Grinding one method to a halt without a proven alternative ready to go is not the answer.