Supporting kids should be our focus

I recently attended the Washington Education Association convention in Spokane.

More than 1,000 educators attended from across the state, representing the WEA’s 78,000 members. At the convention, we set our organization’s goals and priorities for making public education the best it can be.

One of the business items that we passed was one that dealt with testing and accountability issues. Several weeks before my students took the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, I had a sophomore student stay after my class one day in tears because he was sure that he was going to fail mathematics and the WASL. Furthermore, he was convinced that he should just drop out of school immediately and “go to work at McDonalds” because he would not be able to get any really good job.

After persistent but gentle coaching, I convinced him to talk to the counselor to help alleviate his anxiety about taking the WASL.

Some people think that high-stakes tests by themselves will improve student learning. Actually, research shows that one of the most crucial factors in the success of student learning is the relationship between the student and teacher. I applaud the efforts of my colleagues at the WEA assembly for voting to keep the pressure on our lawmakers to give our teachers and children the support they need to be successful, healthy and educated citizens, not simply test takers.

Kari Estes

Stanwood Camano

Education Association