Jane Fendelman

As the fifth largest city in the United States, Phoenix, Arizona, offers a sunny climate, a diverse culture and a unique set of challenges for teachers and school administrators Phoenix. Meeting the needs of the large number of English as a Second Language (ESL) students, a huge proportion of low-income families, and typical urban problems such as high dropout rates among the issues of Phoenix Schools.

It is therefore not surprising that the meeting state standards, enacted by President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act ", said some schools strongly Phoenix. But what about the stress placed on these tests schoolchildren Phoenix? The controversy between some parents in central Phoenix and the school administration has resulted in a collective protest outside the Indian elementary school last week.

A small group of parents, students and a private consultant to picket to protest against the current practice of screening for primary students in schools in Phoenix. Parents, and a former educator and counselor Jane Fendelman, claim that third to fifth year students are overstated these tests "high stakes." Fendelmen says the number of students stressed in his practice has grown considerably in recent years . This argument is not unique in schools Phoenix. educators and parents nationwide have discussed the benefits of testing for years.

Although most States set up a sort of test before 2002, the SAT, which is administered in Grade 11, was the main source of stress testing, and that mainly for the college bound teens Phoenix schools. But the "No Child Left Behind Act" ties annual promotion of successful test results for children.

Arizona schools superintendent Tom Horne said, "The standards are meaningless unless you test them .... anyone who continues to be a defender of the poor should get out of education .... "And it's really the sticking point for all parties. How Phoenix schools enforce reasonable standards and produce well balanced and emotionally stable children?

In Phoenix schools, the point has a big impact. District Roosevelt constantly tested below all other despite higher funding per student. Phoenix schools are being evaluated with the guidelines LEARNS AZ. They are based on the measurement of academic progress (MAP), which compares the results of testing the condition of each school. Like all public schools in Arizona, Phoenix schools use the AIMS test for students in primary and secondary both.

Phoenix schools are assigned notes to excel, high performance, performing, underperforming, or non-compliance with academic standards. the participation of parents of both schools failing, and the pressure successfully tested at a young age. Teachers also complain about "teaching to the test" rather than provide children a well rounded academic education.

However, it seems that the era of testing in schools is Phoenix for the foreseeable future. Whether it concerns a small group of parents protesting against the impact pressure on politicians to "prove" the success has not yet seen.