PARCC Testing and Educational Impact

The speaker urges New Jersey to withdraw from the PARCC Consortium, arguing that the test does not support the goals of public education, which should focus on preparing citizens for democracy. The speaker criticizes the narrow focus of PARCC on reading, writing, and math, and its high-stakes nature, which pressures schools to prioritize test prep over broader educational goals. Personal experiences are shared to highlight the loss of meaningful social studies education. The speaker calls for action to stop substituting test prep for citizenship education and to focus on more comprehensive learning experiences.

What is the main concern the speaker has about the PARCC test?

• It is too easy for students.

• It is not available in all states.

• It does not support the goals of public education.

• It is too expensive to administer.

According to the speaker, why do we pay for public education?

• To ensure children get high-paying jobs.

• To prepare citizens for democratic participation.

• To compete with other countries in education rankings.

• To create future business leaders.

What does the speaker say about the focus of the PARCC test?

• It focuses only on reading, writing, and math.

• It includes comprehensive social studies questions.

• It is designed to test physical education skills.

• It covers a wide range of subjects.

What high-stakes consequences are associated with PARCC scores?

• They influence school funding.

• They affect teacher evaluations.

• They determine college admissions.

• They impact student health assessments.

How does the speaker describe their own fourth-grade education?

• Limited to reading and math skills.

• Centered around technology and computers.

• Rich in social studies and hands-on activities.

• Focused solely on test preparation.

What activities does the speaker's child miss out on due to test preparation?

• Learning about New Jersey's history.

• Participating in sports events.

• Attending music classes.

• Studying foreign languages.

What does the speaker urge the audience to do regarding PARCC testing?

• Join the movement to refuse PARCC testing.

• Advocate for more technology in classrooms.

• Encourage more test preparation in schools.

• Support the continuation of PARCC testing.

What does the speaker believe is the real safeguard of democracy?

• Economic prosperity.

• Technological advancement.

• Military strength.

• Education.

What does the speaker suggest should replace test preparation?

• More sports activities.

• Citizenship preparation and social studies.

• Increased focus on math and science.

• Additional language classes.

What is the speaker's stance on testing small children on computers?

• They support it.

• They are neutral about it.

• They oppose it.

• They believe it should be expanded.