KATU: Local Teacher Wants to Move Away from Standardized Testing

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By Reed Andrews

A Beaverton teacher rallying against standardized testing will be in the crowd for the State of the Union on Tuesday.

He's looking forward to seeing the candid reactions from other lawmakers in the crowd.

"Frankly, just the idea of being in the room and being able to hear what's mumbled under people's breath as (President Obama) talks," Wilkinson said. "The kind of thing you're just not going to be able to see from the television."

David Wilkinson teaches social studies at Westview High School.

When he's not in class he's schooling leaders on how standardized tests take up too much of teachers' instruction time.

"Moving away from the overemphasis of standardized tests," Wilkinson said. "My students, my colleagues all are hoping for a more effective, a more efficient assessment process that really reflects what kids can and cannot do."

Wilkinson is the guest of Oregon U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.

She introduced legislation Tuesday to allow states, such as Oregon and Washington, to have more freedom in setting their own parameters for assessing schools, teachers, and students.

"Students today, because of the high stakes of the tests, they're so stressed often times," Bonamici said. "We need to put the focus back on learning. So students are excited about going to school. Excited about learning."

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