新世纪研究生英语Unit 14 High Stakes Are for Tomatoes.ppt

Unit 14 High Stakes Are for Tomatoes Peter Schrag Interpretation of the title 1. High (wooden) posts tomatofrom falling down 2. a pun—high stakes examinations 3. standardized tests not good Main idea For or Against Standardized Exams Main ideas American school reform has focused on two objectives: stringent严格的academic standards and rigorous严厉的accountability责任，义务. All students are required to pass the high stakes tests, the score of which will decide their graduation or their promotion in grade, and in some states even determine funding拨款 for individual schools and for teachers’ salaries. Penalties for failure, however, have run into opposition from parents and teachers, and an anti-tests coalition has begun to form. Though the backlash激烈反应may get stronger, more people support the reform with tough tests. Group discussion :Advantages of exams: Tests encourage students to work harder, and help them to see what they have learned and what they haven’t. And they also help teachers to judge the effect of their teaching. Disadvantages of exams: The tests may mislead teachers into test-driven teaching and students into test-oriented learning, which may stifle innovation in the end. Having too many tests overstresses the students and does harm to their health. Introduction With education rising to the top of the national agenda, American school reform has focused on two related objectives: more stringent academic standards and increasingly rigorous accountability for both students and schools. In state after state, legislatures, governors, and state boards, supported by business leaders, have imposed tougher requirements on students and have, at the same time, held teachers accountable for students performance on tests. All students are required to pass the high stakes tests, the score of which will decide their graduation or their promotion in grade. In some states funding for individual schools and for teachers and principals salaries depends on ho