The governor of New Jersey,  Governor Murphy, has recently asked the Biden administration for a waiver on the required state testing requirement.   The governor has suggested that students and teachers have already been under a great deal of stress and that preparing for these standardized tests will just add to student and teacher stress.  In addition,  the governor suggests that more time is needed for classroom teaching.   Many people are applauding this decision by the governor, and stating that the governor is "standing up for students." On the other hand,  many feel that end-of-the-year testing allows parents to know exactly how well their child is doing in school and how well they have been taught throughout the year.   A number of parents would prefer that the tests go forward so that they could be sure of accountability on the part of each of the school districts.  If states wish to receive federal funding then they are required to submit end-of-year test standardized test grades for each school district within the state. The Biden administration has not responded to the New Jersey request for a waiver.   

Do you have an opinion on this topic?   Are you in favor of requesting a waiver on testing?    Why?    Are you not in favor of requesting this waiver?    Why?  Is there a compromise position that might make everyone "sort of" happy?             

Leslie asks us to think about our entire student teaching experience

1. What is the most important teaching advice that was given to you by your cooperating teacher?   Has that advice been helpful to you during the past few weeks?  

2. What has been your most exciting student teaching experience, to date.    

Paul is asking a lot of questions

 Why did you choose teaching as a career choice?  What do you hope to give to the profession?  What do you hope to gain from being a teacher?  

Kylie has some important questions to pose. Think long and hard!!!!!!

 Going into observations this semester, what do you expect to be seeing that could be different than other semesters? How do you feel about teaching the students this semester, knowing that some may be with you in-person and some may be remote? How will you handle those different delivery systems and teach them? What problems do you suspect you might come across this semester?