I don’t think anyone wrote that test scores are being “doctored,” which implies changing answers, although that has happened on occasion, according to news reports. When I say that most of these test scores are invalid, I mean that teachers know much of what is on them and so drill the children on the exact items ahead of time. In my 42 years of teaching I was a witness to this year after year. The tests that your child takes are likely not secure. That means that they are often left in teachers’ rooms for several days and are given by classroom teachers who don’t have proctors. There are a thousand and one ways a teacher can “help” a child on a test without touching an eraser. A similar test, with many items exactly the same, is often given year after year. “Teaching to the test” has become widespread since No Child Left Behind and is probably being practiced in every district in the nation. This is why state scores are so much higher than the scores on the National Assessment of Educational Propress (NAEP) which ARE valid. “Teaching to the test” does not mean teaching to the curriculum, which is what teachers should be doing. It means teaching to the exact items on a test, which invalidates it. If your child attends a very high-achieving school, this practice might not be occurring, but it is prevalent in low-performing schools that face severe sanctions for low test scores. If you want to know how your child is really doing in school, go to a teacher’s supply store, purchase a grade level test and administer it. You’ll have an idea of how he is doing.

Or would you like to talk about how many “graduates” need remedial classes to enter college?

None of which is to allege that individual kids’ tests have been mis-scored. But perhaps the rising scores are due to the tests getting easier or easier to predict: http (colon) //www (dot) nydailynews (dot) com/ny_local/education/2009/06/07/2009-06-07_can_you_do_these_math_tests_with_easier_exams_this_year_news_puts_you_to_challen (dot) html

When there have been stories about cheating, such have been extremely rare and localized. And other than enforcement, NOT a policy matter per se about testing in general.

Sorry, but the Big Lie trick is Kleinberg’s, not mine. Got United Colors of Benetton Mailing?

P.S. No need to put words in my mouth casting personal aspersions about anyone’s family. I hope nothing but the best for you and yours, and all 1.1 million NYC kids. Cheers.

I DO have a problem with him using his wealth to corrupt our democracy. Don’t you?

There are millions of hard-working Americans who are not billionaires? Are you suggesting they’re lazy? That Bloomberg is a harder worker? What value being taught in the schools are you refering to? If it’s not on the test, they ain’t teaching it.

If anything, “money can’t buy you love,” IS a value that should be taught in the schools. Then again, under Kleinberg, good test scores can buy you money.