minimizing the suckitude of the WASL

Came across this letter to the editor about the WASL*, written from the perspective of a high school junior. I'll quote snippets, comment, and be done.

This test is supposed to be proof that a student can, at the bare minimum, read something and mindlessly regurgitate it back onto their paper....

If students do, however, decide to drain any amount of their lives worrying about this test, and if they take their time to carefully write and rewrite all of their answers, then the only reward they can expect is the angry stares of classmates who, having been done for half an hour already, are waiting to talk or play cards.

I'm not going to analyze the WASL in depth or talk about why it should be abolished. Instead, I'm going to assume for now that it's here to stay, and recommend one practical change so students who finish early aren't punished for their competence.

Let them quietly leave class when they're done.

Simple. It'll work, too, and here's why.

Excepting emergencies, no one comes or goes during the test. Cell phones and other pesky electronic devices are entirely banned. Consequently, there's no real danger that Joe Student will hop into the hall, whip out a RAZR and text the correct answers to his internet girlfriend in Ephrata.

Let them hang out in the gym or the commons or the library, where they can enjoy the solace of their iPods or gamble away their lunch money playing Texas Hold'em.

Once they go, they can't re-enter the classroom, so there's no risk of information contamination.

End of problem.

It's so simple I almost feel stupid for suggesting it.






*Washington's high-stakes standardized test.