RE: BUILDING ON OUR TENET FOR THE LEARNER

I am voicing my opinion as a parent of a child with learning differences. From my point of view, I think testing, especially the state exit exam, is directing our education further and further away from addressing the learning styles of children and the theory of Multiple Intelligence. Currently we are teaching to these tests, not the unique needs of the child and hindering, rather than enhancing, learning for children with special needs. In a previous posting I explained how our middle school is taking away electives and replacing them with additional core classes to demonstrating they offered the same preparatory exit exam curriculum as other children receive. Taking away my daughter's art class and giving her one more math class, does not  take into consideration my daughter's, or others like her, needs for classes that build upon her creative strengths. I am not opposed to standards, but we need to offer alternative paths and alternative tests for those that are not university bound.