DAVID HENDRICKS: Accountability hurts students, businesses

There are a couple of quotes in this column that really hit the nail on the head. The column is based on a speech given by San Antonio ISD Superintendent, Robert Durón.

Calling testing an “obsession,” Durón said no test can determine if students have learned what they need to be employable.

“You can't test for punctuality. You can't test for initiative. You can't test for problem solving. Those are things that you can't bubble in on a test,” Durón said.

The problem goes beyond the limitations of assessment tests.

Teachers have to “teach to the test.” When they do so, they have to concentrate on the 10 percent of students who will have the most difficulty passing the test. That exasperates the other students. The fun in education gives way to stress for teachers, students and administrators.

“This is why students are bored,” Durón said. “Students drop out, but what scares me are the students who drop out because they are bored.”

On a completely different note, the superintendent's contract is available on the SAISD website. It turned my stomach a little. I don't understand why no one is paying MY professional dues. (Among other things!)

Principal won't be charged

I think this is such an amusing story. Teachers are all too familiar with the pressure to improve scores on standardized tests. This principal allegedly told science teachers,

"I will kill all of you and then shoot myself...You don’t know how ruthless I can be.”

He finally admitted he may have said that. He knows he told them they would all be fired, but he's not sure about the shooting and the killing.

No charges will be filed.

Scores? We should find out soon. Last year, 62% met panel recommendation (which is this year's passing standard).

Blue & Orange & Red All Over

A fairly new strategy for increasing test scores is the student challenge (you know, the Double Dare physical challenge). Teachers agree to shave their heads, wear dresses, kiss pigs, etc. if students manage to pass the test.

One of my colleagues agreed to dye his hair in school colors -- orange and blue -- if his kiddos did well. And they did! He showed up last week in BRIGHT University of Florida colors.

He says kids in the hall asked, "Did you dye your hair that color?"

Uhh... what do you think!?