on testing, see westneat today, the tests are showing seattle teachers doing a good job.

so what's the flaw with having some testing?

btw, most professionals have several accountability systems built in and if teachers will just cheat those individuals should be fired for illegal fraud, right? or do you support cheating on tests?

@2

As a parent, the flaw with the testing Seattle Schools are doing now is that they spend 4-6 weeks of a very short school year on the testing (1 week of review + 1 week of testing every time).

That's testing that isn't increasing the knowledge the kids have and need.

@4 several problems with your answer.

1+1 is not 4.
nor 6.
is it.

also the one week of review, why is that lost time? sounds like teaching to me.

anyway, assuming the test takes too much time, the remedy then would be shorter test, take less time, not ruling out any testing at all.

or add a few weeks to the school year.

we don't have a long havest season in which most student shave to pick crops anymore, do we.

also, it's a good thing the tests show improvement, this helps sell public schools, did you note enrollment is WAY up, so testing can help us build more support for better funding. it's a virtuous circle, no?

@7:
the answer given was "the flaw with the testing Seattle Schools are doing now is that they spend 4-6 weeks of a very short school year on the testing (1 week of review + 1 week of testing every time)." They didn't say they do it three times a year. So, I thought it meant the testing was 1+1 not an unreasonable reading of a very poorly written comment you have now elucidated. thanks for the input. Now let's continue the conversation, noting it's claimed to be now three and three, and assume that's true, perhaps it won't tax your dialogue skills to respond to each point:
1. prep time IS teaching, not wasted time.
2. if you disagree this testing takes too long, the remedy is shorter testing, not none at all.
3. or longer school year. we don't harvest crops most of us here in seattle, do we.
4. Or "count" test result as your grade in the class and use it to eliminate normal testing if it's duplicative.
5. since scores are on upswing, it helps build support for schools. eg, enrollment is up! good news. that plus provable results can help build public support for more funding. see the win win? no? you want win lose, more money but no tests? that's a losing strategy as it's not been working ....
6. a quibble, but they said four to six, not six. suspect this is based on two times a year not three. you arbitrarily picked x3 not x2. good job making numbers prove your point, falsely.
7. not having gone to SPS I know what I read in the media and what other parents tell me -- they fear sending their kids there and wish to send to private schools or they move to mercer island. I went to mainly public schools then three or four colleges and U's and got a few degrees, and was tested all the way through it all and having achieved a stunningly great education, in the liberal arts but also getting mainly A's in science and math in college, yes, I do feel qualified to comment on school issues despite not being in SPS in grades K -12. As most adults aren't. Right? I am highly involved in the schools though as a taxpayer and employer seeing the product of crappy school systems, in this state, students who graduate and can't write a paragraph or do basic math -- assuring me one third means 0.30 -- not to mention organizing a simple to do list. and lacking basic core knowledge ("so what's going on, are their like different laws in different states?").
Rather than a gotcha cum-ad-hominem approach, kayakskinny, why read my broader pint -- the higher test scores we are getting will be helpful to our common goals of more funding for public schools -- and you know, "discuss." Thanks.