Teacher’s Union Supports change in Standardized Testing

Elena Smith

President Smith also spoke about her members’ position on the cancelation of standardized testing for primary school level students. Smith says teachers are in support of the move and that in fact, it is long overdue. 

Senator Elena Smith, National President, B.N.T.U.

“We did a quick polling, just on our Facebook page, to gather from our teachers what were their thoughts on that. And, most of those teachers who responded were satisfied or happy with those moves. Because, a lot of them were saying that the P.S.E. is used to not just look at those students on a national level, but even the teacher’s performance. And, sometimes that is where it is being used to say you are good teachers, this is a good school, this is the best school. That is not always the case. Not because I have my students coming in the top ten means I have the best school. I might have one of the students taking the exam coming in the top ten; does that mean I am the best school? Does it mean I am the best teachers? So, while people may look at the P.S.E. and the BJAT as one tool to determine where how students are doing, that is not the only way to be able to do that. It disenfranchises a lot of our students who want to get into certain high school.  You won’t be able to do that because your grade was not good enough. The child might be smart enough to get there. The school that uses both the report card and the P.S.E., that child stands a better chance at getting into the school they want to get into. But the schools that uses only the P.S.E., that poses a challenge for that child.”