Teachers’ Union Criticizes Master Tests

HARTFORD (AP) –– The state’s largest teacher’s union has criticized Connecticut’s school testing program, saying it distorts teaching.

The Connecticut Education Association said the Connecticut Mastery Test, now in its 17th year, has gained so much influence in many schools that it is stifling creativity and forcing teachers to steal time from subjects such as science and social studies.

“We need to get back to a balance on this whole testing issue,” association president Rosemary Coyle said October 23. The association represents 34,000 teachers.

The exam, which measures reading, math, and writing performance in the state’s public schools, has drawn criticism from the media, politicians, and the public, who believe it causes unwarranted emphasis on testing drills.

Ms Coyle said the time spent on preparation for the exam and using as the sole measure of progress are “the negative consequences of the test.”

State officials defend the test, which is administered to children in grades 4, 6, and 8.

“The Connecticut Mastery Test has had tremendous influence on teaching and learning in Connecticut, and we believe it has done a lot of good, providing information to teachers and others about the performance of students,” said Thomas Murphy, state Department of Education spokesman.

Murphy said the department has been concerned about the pressure created by the test. “We have discouraged an overemphasis on so-called drill and kill,” he said.