Too much testing in public schools

In his monthly article in American Teacher, in February 2006, AFT President Edward J. McElroy discusses the increasing dissatisfaction of AFT members regarding the excessive testing required by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). He indicates the majority of AFT members agree there is too much testing which has left less room in the curriculum for instruction to be fully accomplished. He also indicates that these new required standardized tests are of poor quality and …

…test takers, but possibly falling behind with other studies. I feel there needs to be an overhaul of the system of standardized tests to improve overall quality instruction and to maximize instructional time in the number of school days allotted by each school district. The children are in school to learn not to become proficient at test taking, but to become well rounded, knowledgeable young adults who can contribute to the good of our society.