More testing isn't answer to improving education

on June 24, 2011 at 12:12 AM

I was an educator for 49 years and get exacerbated with politicians and yes, some pedantic educators who seem to think there is only one solution for improving our public educational system, and that solution is more testing.

As a side note, how can I have confidence in politicians' determination regarding education when they have a history of not getting a state budget passed on time?

Testing might provide some incentive for improving learning, but it is only a small portion in the development of the affective and academic domains vital to a student's achievement.

The main ingredient for educating students is a motivational teacher who provides individualized and differentiated instruction based on a student's intellect, aptitudes and their interests. A motivational teacher also utilizes and develops the understanding of critical thinking skills from translation to evaluation that will assist students to deal effectively with most situations that will confront them in their life.

Politicians and the secretary of education should develop an educational paradigm that assists teachers in using motivational systems in daily instruction and they will have a much more positive impact in developing a student's physical, emotional and academic requisites.

HENRY FERRI, Hampden Twp.