An editorial in last Friday's Advocate quoted State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek as saying, “Teaching to the test is a good thing, because what students need to learn is on the test.”

That comment raises some eyebrows at the LFT office - we felt that most teachers believe teaching to the test is not the best way to impart knowledge, develop critical thinking skills and imbue in students a lifelong ambition to learn.

Overwhelmingly, teachers opposed the idea of teaching to the test. Find complete results at EdLog, the LFT blog.

Our state is now facing a $1.1 billion budget shortfall, and the Louisana Federation of Teachers is advocating well-targeted investments in public education funding that could amount to billions over the next decade. That may sound like foolishness, but please hear us out.