Parents Across Rhode Island

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T he following is testimony submitted to the Rhode Island General Assembly in support of legislation protecting students from the harmful and negative effects of high stakes testing and the rush to implement the Common Core standards with it's accompanying tests.  For additional testimonies, please return to

This afternoon, you will hear compelling testimony from many groups and individuals pertaining to the ineffective and unfair use of standardized tests as a graduation requirement.  Without question, English Language Learners, students with special needs and young people burdened with socio-economic concerns are negatively impacted by this practice.  With this being stated, I have additional concerns.

While many have commented about standardized tests’ negative impact in terms of critical thinking skills, creating a teaching-to-the-test dynamic and the over-emphasis on some subjects at the expense of others, still more needs to be looked at.


I have worked in the human services for approximately 35 years.  Over this span, my experience includes:  serving as an outpatient clinician; director of a half-way house (for alcoholics and drug addicts); a consultant to the Training School; an adjunct professor at Providence College, the RI Department of Education and presently the Director of the East Greenwich Drug Program.  I point this out merely to illustrate that I have worked with young people and folks suffering from mental illness for some time.


The way we are educating young people today is significantly different from how they were educated 15-20 years ago.  Some schools have eliminated recess.  Many others have eliminated study halls.  Students are required to take more classes, factor in senior project and pass a standardized test to graduate.  In my practice, I have witnessed that this accelerated pace has caused significant stress for many young people.  Because of this stress, more and more kids are being prescribed medications to help them cope.  In East Greenwich, where I work, there has been a rise in prescription drug use/abuse among our youth population.  I believe that a portion of this can be attributed to stress caused by an inability to adjust to the rigors and expectations imposed on them by our present educational system.


In fact, the American Psychological Association has expressed concern about using a single measure such as a standardized test as a requirement for graduation.  Instead, they advocate including other relevant and valid information, as well.  The issue is not so much the test but how it is applied.

Once, educators factored in Montessori, Piaget, Gardner and Elkind into their decision making process.  Now, it appears that folks like Bill Gates and numerous testing companies carry the most weight.


Using the NECAPs as a graduation requirement exposes many concerns.  As you already know, the test was never intended to be used as such.  All students are negatively impacted under the present system.

Thank you for your consideration regarding this matter.  Education can and should be fun.  It can also be done in a way that promotes a lifelong respect for learning.  Teaching to the test has established a survival of the fittest scenario.  Unfortunately, in this instance, even the fittest might not be very fit.


Sincerely,

Robert L. Houghtaling

Director, East Greenwich Drug Program

East Greenwich, RI