Science Grades Being Awarded On Student Report Cards Even When No Science Lessons Are Taught

[proud2BlibKansan]

As many as one in five teachers in Kansas and neighboring states are reporting science grades on student report cards, without actually teaching it or testing students on the subject.

Trego school district Superintendent George Griffith presented to the Kansas State Board of Education a report Tuesday that surveyed more than 900 elementary teachers across Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Among his findings, according to the Lawrence World Journal: more than 55 percent of K-6 teachers have cut back on science education, by an average of 30-60 minutes a week.

Board member Ken Willard called the act "unconscionable" and "reflects a lack of integrity."

Educators said they reported science grades simply because there was a blank space for it on report cards. Cutting back on science lessons also meant teachers could spend more time focusing on high-stakes reading and math exams.

"I can understand their concern," Griffith said told the Lawrence World Journal. "Those are the key things we want to focus on, and that's important. Some of it was top-down from administration; some of it was the teachers' belief system, that they felt they needed to put that much time in… This seems to be an ongoing theme around the country, it's not just in Kansas."

more ... http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/14/science-grades-being-awar_n_2131908.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

[northoftheborder]

1. Disheartening and disgusting to hear

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. Spooooooookey. n/t

[LWolf]

4. When, 2 years ago,

an admin suggested that I really didn't need to teach social studies, that it would be better to just focus on reading, I replied:

"Let me know when the district takes social studies off the report card I'm required to put grades onto." Of course, that didn't happen.

Imagine the response if we just left it blank, and when parents asked, we could tell them "My boss/our district/etc. told us to quit teaching it to focus on tested subjects, or to give it so little time and attention in favor of tested subjects that we can't really give a final grade."

It would be good for the board to pay attention to why science, or any other tested subject, isn't getting enough time or attention in the classroom.

[srichardson]

5. No science or history taught here

in most elementary classrooms in Oklahoma. Starting next year, 3rd graders have to pass the reading test or suffer mandatory repeat of 3rd grade. Against a parents wishes. Our school does not "have time " to teach science or history in elementary. It is such a disgrace to our students. We have implemented Common Core standards, which places an emphasize on reading in every subject. Maybe this will help teachers put more focus on other areas. At least that is my hope.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. That's the story in many states

We still teach Science in MO because it is tested in 5th grade. But Social Studies isn't tested until high school so it is just sparsely covered in elementary school.