Reply #65: I taught in that FCAT madness.

[mfcorey1]

I witnessed students threatening suicide, becoming depressed, and quitting school because of failure to pass the required state monster. Some of the breakdown in education in Florida began with Jeb Bush and this pseudo educational tool. Principals prepare at for the beginning of the year with focus on remedial curriculum and placing the best teachers in those classes. The end line is that at the end of the school year when school's are graded based on the performance of their students on the test, no one wants an "F" grade. If you do receive one you are placed in hell and displayed for the entire state to see. Critical thinking and advanced classes suffer as every student is thrown in one pot. Low performing schools are stripped of their excellent students when the state mandates that they can transfer because of the school's grade. That leaves only at risk students in the school creating a vicious cycle of low performers. This is especially in Miami Dade. I believe in assessments, however the use of it in Florida does more harm to students than good. Every thing that they do for twelve years is based on that test.