Testing the teachers

Respected band teacher D.L Johnson of North Monterey County High wrote this essay in response to his experience taking the CTEL test. I'm curious: how many teachers in Monterey County had to take it -- regardless of the subject they teach? And I'm even more curious about its potential ramifications: are teachers now going to be evaluated based on their performance of the test -- now that there's so much emphasis on finding ways to evaluate teachers? I'll be curious to hear what teachers out there have to say.

Education's worst test ever?
By D.L. Johnson

On June 11^th hundreds of schoolteachers walked into testing centers throughout the state to take a 6-hour exam, that is by far the most difficult and excruciating over-all exam ever given to educators. I know I was one of them. When I left the six hour exam, after spending 9 Saturdays--attending the six hour class each day--along with hours and hours of study just to prepare for this one test, I left the test angry, humiliated, hurt, frustrated, furious, and mostly disheartened all at the same time. After 37 years in education my career was being tested on a subject area I very seldom if ever have had to consider in my music classrooms. From my perspective as a high school band director, it is the worst example of educational testing I have ever witnessed. Why? Music classes, including all the college classes I took after college, are based on performance. Not testing. In fact, it was the first written exam I had ever taken in 37 years (except the DMV test). It’s called the CTEL Exam. For many, I’m sure you would say, “It really wasn’t that bad.” However, look at what you teach. The CTEL test is based on the mechanics of learning English language skills as taught in a regular classroom. What if the subject you have been teaching is not based on English language skills? What if comprehension is taught before mechanics? Ex. If an Auto Shop student, who speaks little or no English, can put a carburetor together correctly in shop class, language is not the issue---Comprehension is. If a music student can perform the music correctly, language is not the issue---Comprehension is.

Think of the worst test you ever took in school? Most of you are probably thinking of a certain subject test like that Biology test you struggled through, or maybe the SAT Exam, or how about that five day CST (California State Test). For some of you it might just be trying to get through that DMV test for your first drivers license. The reality is the “educations worst test ever” is not taken by the students at all, but by the teachers. It’s called the CTEL (California Teachers of English Learners, formally called CLAD) Exam.

The purpose of the CTEL training is to train teachers how to teach ELD (English Learning Deficient) students, when they are mainstreamed into their classrooms. No problem with that. CTEL Training is a long and extensive program. For some teachers however, whose subject area does not include extensive language skills in reading and writing, (Ex. Visual and Performing Arts, Vocational Education, Physical Education, etc), the CTEL class and exam can be quite a challenge. Most educators will say there is nothing wrong with CTEL training for credential certification. To some extent I would agree. I actually found the subject fascinating over the 9 Saturday-six hours per day classes. I learned so much. Therefore, I thought there was nothing wrong with CTEL training. IT WAS THE 6-HOUR TEST THAT SO MANY QUESTION. It is so difficult even those trained in classroom reading and writing find it challenging. After the exam, I saw teachers angry, frustrated, mad, and even crying. Many felt it was a career-ending disaster.

The certification for ELD is not new. Teachers have been doing this since the mid-80’s. However, lately, many school districts have put deadlines that all their teachers be certified in ELD. This is where it all breaks down. Tests are black and white. This test is just plain fuzzy. 75% of the materials I studied for the exam were not on the test. Questions are based on everyday classroom scenarios. However, the answers are so similar, if you miss one hidden word, you might select the wrong answer easily. That’s, of course, if you really know what the word means in this situation.

When CLAD (now CTEL) training and certification was first introduced in the 1990’s, many teachers were told they did not need to take this because they were not directly involved with ELD learners. Also, school districts weren’t pushing everyone to take this training because the districts were paying for the instruction and paying the teachers for each day they attended the class. Now there are no school funds to pay the $2000+ cost per teacher. This is where this exam takes a bad step. The subject area teachers who were originally told they would not have to take the training and exam must now study a subject area they have little use for in the classroom. CTEL Training is based on regular classroom or subject areas that require a lot of reading and writing. Therefore all the CTEL test questions are based on a regular academic classroom scenario. (Not a shop class, music class, dance class, PE class, etc.)

Performance or demonstration (also called “Hands-On” courses), do not base their classes heavily on reading and writing (I’m not insinuating that language skills are not used in those classes. It’s just not the focus). Most the teachers mentioned above are closing in on 30+ years in teaching. When these teachers study and take the CTEL Exam they must translate each question (scenario) into a type of teaching they use very little in the classroom. In other-words, a P.E. teacher, Music Teacher, Vocational Ed Teacher, Dance Teacher, etc., must learn to think like an English Teacher. Not easy to do in the short amount of time given. The big question is not whether these teachers should have to be certified in instructing ELD students, but whether it is even necessary. Most good performance based teachers who have taught a few years have already figured out how to deal with their ELD students through physically demonstrating class content.

Yes we were warned. But we were also made to feel some of us did not need to study for this, or worry about the exam. It’s just like the people who were encouraged to buy a home, without fully realizing monthly payments would eventually go up. We got conflicting advice.

So why are school districts pushing this. Is it for money and bragging rights? Maybe? There are even rumors it is not even mandated by the state. Then who is mandating it? Is it the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, or special interest groups? I believe most teachers support CTEL training, but not the huge amount of class time, and most certainly not the final test.

My final evaluation of this entire experience, was that the test makers were trying to show us how difficult it is for young people to learn the English Language. I get it, but why sacrifice so many experienced educators just to make a point. It takes 5-7 years for kids to learn a language. We were given only a few months.