Blog: FCAR Speakout

Major Test Anxiety Plagues Third Grader

My son is an ESE student and one of his problems is major test anxiety. The morning of the FCAT he was pale, shaking and vomiting. They put so much pressure on him to pass that he failed it miserably, completely bombed it. He was making good grades all year and has special accommodations for tests but they would not use all his accommodations for the FCAT. He attended after school programs all year to help him pass and then went to summer school, but he still failed the test again. My son also has what they called a praxis problem. He needed the test read to him verbally, but they said they couldn't do it. What is going to happen when he fails every FCAT test that is forced on him? It is only this test -- he does fine on all the rest . They make such a big deal out of it that it freaks him out and he knows that it's a pass or fail test.

My son is 9 years old, five feet tall, in the 3rd grade for the second time, and really bored because he already knows all the stuff they are teaching . And now because of this test he thinks he's stupid and other children tease him because he's the biggest kid in his grade.

My daughter is in 6th grade and starting middle school this year and for the first time touching a science book. Fifth grade didn't teach science. I asked the teacher why and he said it's because it's not on the FCAT and they don't have time. He says he has to get the kids to memorize math and reading so they will pass and make the school look good. Our children are not learning; they will never be able to use deductive reasoning because they are being taught to memorize and not to think.

This test is an outrage. I went to Florida schools and I turned out just fine using the old standardized testing. Grades in class should be pass or fail, not one test.

Glenda Wallace

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Last modified: 04/06/08