Standardized Testing Stirs Debate at Novi Education Forum

Cuts to education funding in Michigan are a big concern for educators and parents of children in public schools. 

“We’re diverting a whole bunch of money from our public schools and I think it’s terrible,” said Michigan Sen. Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor), at an education forum at Novi Middle School Monday night. 

Teachers, administrators and politicians came together at the forum to answer the question of what Michigan's responsibility is toward educating its population. 

“All of our schools are being required to do more with less,” said Sheila Paton, treasurer of the Plymouth-Canton Community school board.

Panelists spent the first part of the evening discussing student performance. Bill Rustem, Governor Rick Snyder's director of strategy, said Michigan students aren't doing as well as they should.

Brian Langley, physics teacher at Novi High School, said teachers should be asked to assist in evaluating students and it shouldn't be left to standardized tests.

“We get locked in this concept that students are identical pieces of steel,” he said.

He said all students are different and no one knows them better than their teachers.

WXYZ Channel 7 anchor JoAnne Purtan, who moderated the forum, asked the panelists whether Michigan was over-testing its students.

“Testing is good, but it can’t be the place where we put all of our eggs,” said Michele Harmala, associate superintendent at Farmington Public Schools.

Some ways to improve student performance are to encourage excellent teaching and early childhood programs, both of which are under-funded, said John Austin, president of the state's board of education.

“We can’t afford the basic support for education to go along with the reforms we’re demanding,” he said.

Panelists also discussed teacher recruitment and evaluation and public funding of education. Check back with Patch for more stories on those topics.