One of the problems with "high stakes testing" is the tremendous pressure it puts on adults to produce certain scores on tests that assess along a narrow band of intelligence and education. The Atlanta scandal is a great case in point.
Michelle Rhee has been a leading voice for high stakes testing and "holding teachers accountable". John Merrow - whom I've met, as he's an alum of my school and frequent speaker here - unloads a huge can of whupass on her legacy.
This - in conjunction with a presentation I saw on Friday by Dr. Howard Gardiner on multiple intelligences - further confirms that high stakes testing tends to warp the educational process. And as the parent of a kid who is quite intelligent in many ways, but struggles in others, I have to say that the sooner we can stab a stake through the heart of this pressure cooker, the better.
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