Florida Teacher Refuses to Give Standardized Tests

A Florida kindergarten teacher is fed up with standardized testing and she’s not going to take it anymore.

Alachua County’s Susan Bowles, 59, said she had to draw a line in the sand when Florida’s FAIR test, which is meant to predict a young student’s likelihood for reading success, went online. The test, which now must be administered one-on-one, takes up to 50 minutes a student to give. Since FAIR is required three times a year, Bowles estimates that cuts about six weeks out of her time for actually teaching students, WFTV reported.

While the test was once paper-based, the format changed this year and along with it the time commitment.

Bowles told the Gainesville Sun she understands the move could put her job in jeopardy. Her refusal to administer the state-mandated test could be seen as a breach of her contract.

“I cannot in good conscience submit to administering this test three times a year, losing six weeks of instruction,” the Sun quoted her as saying.

While it is not clear at this time what will happen to Bowles’ career, her students will undergo the test as ordered by the state the Sun reported. Bowles, however, won’t be giving it. Chiles Elementary School’s principal is stepping in while Bowles is being left, for now, to simply teach.

Two school board members have stepped up to support Bowles, the Palm Beach Posted reported. Bowles has also asked parents concerned about the amount of instructional time lost to standardized tests to contact Gov. Rick Scott.

Bowles isn’t alone in her objection to standardized testing. Last month, Lee County School Board members voted to opt out of all state-mandated testing. Other districts are now considering the idea.

What are your thoughts on standardized tests? Do schools put too much emphasis on them? Let us know what you think by commenting below!

See Also:

• Lee County Goes Rogue on Common Core
• Should Bay Area Schools Opt Out of Standardized Tests?

Photo Credit: Patch File Photo