TAKS Test Attacked By Candidates For Governor

The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, known as the TAKS test, is getting some play in the Texas governors race. The test was passed in 1999 and is given to all students in grades 3-11. It is used to promote students and to rate schools. Governor Perry supports the test, saying that it is just an example of Texas striving toward higher standards. Perry is the only candidate that supports the TAKS test as it currently exists though. All four of his opponents want to either change the test or eliminate it.

Grandma wants to move the test from the Spring to the Fall. She says that teachers could then use the results of the test to address a student's weak areas. To me, this still sounds like they would be "teaching the test", instead of educating the students.

Bell thinks we should not be using the test for promotion decisions, teacher pay, or school ratings. He did not say how he thought the test should be used. What is the point of giving a test that has no useful purpose?

Kinky's idea is the most radical of the major candidates. Kinky wants to do away with the test altogether. Kinky said, "It's not hard to get rid of the test. You do it with a bully pulpit. You do it the same way JFK put a man on the moon." Kinky did not say how he would deal with the requirement of the federal government that the test be given.

Werner, the Libertarian candidate, agreed that the test was a poor substitute for poor learning, but did not say what he would do about it. Generally, he wants to drastically reduce the state's role in education.

So, Perry wants to keep the TAKS as it is, Grandma and Bell want to change it, and Kinky wants to do away with it. Of the three ideas, I like Kinky's best, if he can figure a way for it to not cost the state valuable federal education dollars. Far too often, teachers are just teaching the TAKS test nowdays. We need to take our focus off the test, and put it back on educating our children.