Teachers Boycott Mandated Standardized Tests

Two schools in Seattle are boycotting district’s mandated standardized tests.

 

(Power to the teachers.) 

 

Here’s the situation: The majority of Garfield High School’s teacher and staff (the first school to boycott) said on January 10, 2013 that they will not give the standardized test because it is flawed, students don’t take it seriously, and it’s being misused, used to evaluate teachers instead of students.

 

“We, the Garfield teachers, respectfully decline to give the MAP test to any of our students. We have had different levels of experiences with MAP in our varied careers, have read about it, and discussed it with our colleagues. After this thorough review, we have all come to the conclusion that we cannot in good conscience subject our students to this test again.”

 

Read all the reasons the Garfield teachers give on The Answer Sheet, Washington Post.

 

A few days later, 25 teachers at Ballard High School decided would also boycott the standardized tests.

 

These teachers join the many thousands of parents who boycott the tests by keeping their children home “sick”. And, they join both teacher and parent groups who are passing resolutions against high-stakes testing.

 

These teachers and parents just prove to me what a great country we live in. In this country, if you don’t like something, you have the power to speak up for change. The more voices, the more likely change will happen.

 

Do you want the testing situation to change?

 

And if so, are you willing to do something about it?

 

Comment here.