Regarding the Nov. 21 letter, “Stop complaining and start studying”: I am offended the letter writer equates valid parental concern with “whining.” State Superintendent Terry Bergeson would like parents to be more “engaged” in their children’s education (November State of Education speech.) And yet, when a parent is involved out of concern for their child’s education (or lack thereof), often they are met with being called “controlling, overbearing” and accused of “robbing their child of responsibility.” Or called “whiners.” You can’t have it both ways.
The writer offered his daughter’s “formula for success” for having passed the WASL as a freshman: No cell phone, no talking on the phone with friends, no TV time, and no frivolous time spent on the Internet. With a pass rate of only 46 percent of current 10th grade students, I’m sure there are plenty of children who are failing the WASL who don’t have access to any of those things. Only 46 percent of the students in the class of 2008 have passed the WASL. A test that fails 44,262 students is a failure of a test!
If wanting a well-rounded, true education for our children falls under the term “whining,” then more parents should be proud to be whining loudly! The WASL tests how a child thinks, not what they know. If it were testing true knowledge, then 3.5-4.0 students wouldn’t be failing. WASL has never been subjected to an independent validity study. WASL is a flawed tool “testing” children on their ability to think inside the WASL box.
My family values independent thinking, individuality and true education – not just a pass grade on a bogus “test!”
Rachel DeBellis
Executive Board Member
Parent Empowerment Network/ Mothers Against WASL
Marysville
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