Too much rides on the all powerful FCAT tests

Listen carefully and you're likely to hear a giant sigh of relief as thousands of local students complete their FCAT tests for this school year. What's impossible to hear, though, is the stress that teachers and administers likely feel this time of year, too, knowing that the results of these tests could affect them and their schools.

The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test has taken center stage in our state's educational system. Almost everything depends on it. The academic future of students and the funding for schools can hinge on how these tests go. It's kind of scary when you think that one test can affect so many people. At the same time, we know that tests can only measure certain things and not give a full picture.

We give the FCAT credit for concentrating efforts on teaching basic skills. No doubt that change was necessary for some districts. Improvements are being seen, too, and you can't argue with that. What you can argue with, however, is how one testing system can become so powerful. It is, after all, just a test.

We agree that we have to start somewhere to measure learning, and that's no easy task. But the things that are measurable are at least matched by things that are not measurable. Is remembering a historic date more important than the enrichment that a great book can bring a student? Isn't learning more than just rote memorization of facts?

We don't disagree with standardized testing. We need baseline information and some way to measure a level of learning. And no one disagrees about the need to hold accountable the people we put in charge of educating our children. But we want it to be fair.

Don't punish schools that are located in economically distressed communities when grades aren't as high as we'd like. We can require reading lists and curriculumn, but we cannot mandate good parenting and helping students with homework once they go home for the day. Educational abilities vary from child to child, from year to year. Too many variables are at play for one test to measure it all.

FCAT has become the Evil Empire to a lot of students and educators. Their entire school year is either preparing for it, taking it or waiting for the results. No test should hold that kind of sway on everyone involved.