Most schools show below average test scores as their reason for nest year's emphasis on test taking. For example, last year, state test scores showed 90 percent of students in Coburn Elementary School needed improvement and 10 percent of the students performed in the advanced category. Three percent of Tatham School students scored in the advanced range. The tests have put a lot of stress on the performance of our students and teachers because they are almost the only criteria by which a school is judged. There will also be a greater focus next year on activities and volunteer work for parents.
Education is a partnership between teachers, parents and students.
An analysis of the previous year's activities shows that while more parents attended family-related activities and those involving their own child, a smaller number attended academically related events. In an effort to seek more parental participation, schools have planned to provide activities such as field trips, reading nights, and classroom visits for parents. In their plans, schools stated they will provide such things as experience with multiple choice, short answer and open-response questions and after school tutorials as a means to reach higher state test scores. School Committee chairman Karen A. Barrows urged the committee to work with legislators to make changes to enable students to graduate regardless of the state test. They should receive a graduation diploma that would rank them, opposed to no diploma at all.