COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina legislators continue hearing testimony from the public on a massive bill to overhaul South Carolina’s education system.
Tuesday’s education subcommittee meeting was another opportunity for lawmakers and members of the public to discuss the proposed 84-page bill that would provide a 10 percent raise to the minimum salary for first-year teachers, consolidate poorly performing school districts and eliminate four state standardized tests.
Mark Turner with the South Carolina Council for History Education said he supports legislation that would eliminate two social studies end-of-the-year tests for elementary students. Turner said students should be encouraged to use school-based experiences to improve themselves and the community and he asked lawmakers to consider a new teacher accountability system that would not be based on student testing performances. The educator, who is in his 26th year of teaching, said another system of oversight would be the most cost effective way to assist students.
“Political implications have caused teachers to view their success through testing of their students,” Turner said. “I suggest a new accountability system not counted on performance of standardized testing.”
Social studies teacher and 10-year teaching veteran Kason Dalton said she agrees with removing mandated testing to encourage students to engage in debate which she said would better prepare students for the real world. Dalton said some educators teach to the test because they are being unfairly assessed by how their students perform in the classroom.
“I would love to be able to take some of the content and use it in a different way in the classroom,” Dalton said. “What’s important to me as a teacher and mother is that our kids have the opportunity to learn and rethink and be engaged citizens.”
Lawmakers have scheduled another public hearing for next week.
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