Earlier today I posted about a letter that went viral. Its authorship was attributed to two different people. A reader, Mary Ginley, says she wrote the letter in 1999:
“I wrote the original letter in 1999 and it was published in the East Longmedow Town Reminder in Maasachusetts. I was active in the anti-MCAS movement at the time.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
For many years the United States was on top in terms of educating its students, mainly (in my opinion) because it recognized the many talents that human beings have. Our country also allowed people time to achieve, so that a working class kid like myself was not barred from college because of low test scores. Testing meritocracies such as Japan and Singapore noted our ability to turn out citizens who excelled in all areas of human endeavor and started to study our methods. But instead of being proud of our outstanding achievements, we started to copy theirs. Now testing has become a frenzied obsession that is blighting the school experiences for our youngest children.
Sometime in the 1990’s I looked at my students’ report cards and realized that the same children were always getting the high marks in academic subjects, while others got all the low grades. I knew that some of these “low” achievers were actually very talented, but not necessarily in subjects that were tested. I decided I needed to observe my students more carefully.
I began to keep a notebook with me at all times. During P.E., art, music, creative dramatics, “sharing” etc., I started jotting down the students’ reactions and behaviors. Sure enough, everyone displayed some type of talent. Both students and parents were thrilled when “Mary” who was not that good at mathematics, was deemed a talented artist or “John” the best runner. Many of the parents took my advice and sought special training outside of school.
And then there was the Japanese man who told me that his son, deemed “stupid” in Japan because of low test scores, was praised for his artistic talents in a California high school and went on to become a successful graphic artist in Beverly Hills.
For a long time we seemed to understand how children are more than their test scores, but now we are forgetting this. How will this affect our country?
For those of you who are interested in this topic, read the writing of Professor Yong Zhao, who was featured recently on this blog.
Diane, I can send you the original if you give me your email address. I scanned it into my computer and don’t know how to do an attachment on a comment. When I wrote the letter, it took on a life of its own, particularly in Massachusetts and it ended up in lots of school newsletters. And I’m glad it’s being used again (although sad that there’s a reason to use it still) My daughter got in touch with Kimberly Hurd and sent her the original letter. Kimberly still believes she wrote it a couple years ago herself. I’m not sure why it matters so much to me that people know it’s mine but it does. Below are two links showing times when people used it and acknowledged my authorship.
http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/in_her_own_words/
http://lesleyntc.blogspot.com/2012/05/whats-really-important-and-standardized.html
Mary,
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Re Viral Letter: Yup, I can confirm that indeed Mary Ginley (former Massachusetts Teacher of the Year ) wrote this lovely letter so many years ago. Mary was a member of our High Stakes Testing Opposition group in Western MA when MCAS first loomed ominously on the horizon, speaking to many full house groups of teachers, parents, students and community members about the High Costs of High Stakes. Sadly, everything she predicted 15 years ago–has come to pass. Kids (and teachers and schools) are deemed successful or not by one single measure of highly questionable assessment. . See a piece I wrote chronicling that early movement 2001 in Salon (http://www.salon.com/2001/05/11/test_revolt/), pre the Diane Ravitch come senses years…Oh when will we ever learn.
Meg Robbins
Diane, I am a good friend to Mary GInley, who wrote this letter, when we were first active anti-MCAS colleagues together. It’s keen in my mind, as being so powerful and caring. Her voice, speaking to her students, is a central piece to who Mary is. I value her for so many things, and this is but one. How wonderful that what came from her heart, now has traveled so far, and speaks to so many children. How wonderful that it speaks so deeply, honestly, sincerely, that many think it was their voice too.
Thanks you for publishing this correction, and giving the proper credit to this dedicated, compassionate, and wise woman.
Pixie Holbrook