Feingold Opposes Over-Testing Wisconsin’s Public Schools Students Senator Calls on House-Senate Conference to Remove Mandatory Tests from Education Bill August 7, 2001 Eagle River, WI – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today discussed his opposition to the testing provisions in the Elementary and Secondary Education bill, which is now being considered by a House-Senate Conference Committee. Feingold recently sent a letter to the conference’s lead senators urging them to remove the mandatory testing provisions before the legislation comes to a final vote and is sent to the President’s desk. "With so many tests every year, teachers will spend more and more time "teaching to the test," rather than teaching in areas where the class needs to spend extra time," Feingold said. "Additional testing is a knee-jerk approach to education policy - that somehow if students aren't learning enough, testing them over and over again will somehow make a difference. I agree that some tests are needed to ensure that our kids are keeping pace, but taking time to test kids has to take a back seat to taking the time to teach kids in the first place." Despite the volume of tests our children already take, the education bill passed by the Senate earlier this year would require additional tests for some of Wisconsin’s public school students. Feingold strongly opposes over-testing students in our public schools. He believes that because state and local school districts bear the responsibility for educating our children, they should decide which tests are appropriate. Many Wisconsinites have contacted Feingold to voice their concerns about this proposed federal mandate. "Our children are people, not numbers. Yet the testing program contained in this bill would judge our students, teachers, schools, school districts, and states by test scores," Feingold said. "If we place too much emphasis on testing, we could create a generation of students who know how to take tests, but who don't have the skills necessary to become successful adults." Feingold held his 39th Listening Session of the year, and the 615th Listening Session since he was first elected, at the Vilas County Courthouse beginning at 8:15 a.m. He held his 40th session of the year, and 616th since 1992, at the Mercer Town Hall beginning at 11:15 a.m.

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