Are PSSAs Ruining Our Schools?

An opinion piece recently published in the Post-Gazette has created quite the buzz on Facebook.

Kathy Newman, an English professor and mother of a third grader, wrote that she is having her son "opt out" of this year's PSSA because the stressful tests "warp the educational environment." Her son attends Pittsburgh's Linden Elementary School.

We asked our Baldwin-Whitehal Patch readers on Facebook about Newman's decision—and they were supportive.

"Not a fan of the PSSAs. It is stressful for both kids and parents. And, the schools spend weeks gearing up with special assemblies and practice tests. There has to be a better way!" Lisa Zirngibl wrote.

"The fact that this testing requires an entire 24-hour period of time (granted, it is broken up into eight days of three-hour testing) is complete insanity. What is even more insane is the standard to which the children are held is completely unattainable. Then when the schools don't score satisfactorily (as they are basically set up to do) they lose funding for the very tools that would help students TO learn!" Megan McGee Smith wrote.

So what do you think? Will you join the "opt-out" of PSSAs movement? Tell us in the comments below.