As an educator, principal and curriculum developer, my primary interest is in the instructional time spent in the classroom. We only have so many hours in a day and with each lesson, we must be very specific and about what should take place. When I meet with my teachers, their concerns are over teaching our students skills they will need once they graduate. The science teacher develops and hones lessons to make sure that students are able to synthesize and analyze data and be able to write reports in a clear, concise manner; Whilst the math teacher agonizes over how to relate the concepts in calculus and algebra to real-world experiences so the students can master the formulae. Then there is the English teacher down the hall who spends countless hours reading through student papers determining strategies for each student to master grammar and writing techniques, where the student is weak.
Our teachers, dedicated professionals, spend a considerable amount of time and energy meeting the educational needs of each and every one of our students and without exams. You may be wondering how our teachers can possibly assess without weekly multiple choice exams? Teachers know when they are instructing and lessons are met with a blank stare or the students are completely engaged in discussion. They see from their body language and in-class activities exactly what the student knows, the strengths and the weaknesses. Teachers understand what motivates each student and find ways (and many times through trial and error) to reach a student, which may not be through traditional testing means.
Our teachers work very hard. I appreciate the time they put in to teach and to utilize every moment of each lesson productively. Spending valuable time and energy teaching our students to take a test (which by the way is rarely used in the workforce) takes away from their education.
by Dr. Wendy Hirsch Weiner, principal of Conservatory Prep Senior High in Davie, FL. http://www.conservatoryprep.org
Refocusing Education in South Florida for the Enrichment of our Teens 