Testing Overkill

At newyorkprincipals.org/letter-to-parents-about testing, one can view the November 2013 "Letter to Parents About Testing" penned by New York State Principals.  It outlines many of the dramatic problems posed by increased high-stakes testing, including adverse mental as well as physical effects. Point #4 is quoted below:

"Children have reacted viscerally to the tests:  We know that many children cried during or after testing, and others vomited or lost control of their bowels or bladders.  Others simply gave up.  One teacher reported that a student kept banging his head on the desk, and wrote, 'This is too hard,' and 'I can't do this,' throughout his test booklet."