This morning, parent groups in New York City are leading a protest against high-stakes testing at the headquarters of Pearson. They call their action “a field trip against field tests.” It happens to be a professional development day, so many parents plan to bring their children. Half a dozen different parent groups are coordinating their plans. Among other planned highlights of the demonstration, there will be a marching band!
They hope to inspire parents in other cities and across the nation.
The parents are demonstrating against the Pearson field tests that will be administered in schools across the city and the state this month, wasting another day of instruction to help develop test items for future tests. Pearson needs the field tests for its purposes but the parents don’t want to see more time spent on testing to prepare for more testing.
Yesterday parent activists discovered that Pearson had created a Facebook page called “Parents Kids & Testing.” They began bombarding the site with their comments, which disappeared as soon as they were posted. One parent wrote that her comment was still up, after thirty-six minutes, “maybe they are sleeping,” but soon wrote to say that it was gone. Soon there was a contest to rename the Pearson Facebook page, and one suggestion was “The Black Hole,” to identify the fact that any dissident comments would soon be gone. So many of the Parent Voices continued the game, posting their comments of outrage and watching a faceless person on Facebook delete them.
Another parent soon made the connection from Pearson to Students First, and she recounted her Twitter exchange with that group, which was purposely confusing “learner-centered” education (computer instruction) with “child-centered” education (engagement of the teacher with children’s individual needs and interests).
“Is it wrong that I’m a little excited to have more Pearson b.s. to debunk?
In a similar vein, I just picked a fight with @studentsfirst on Twitter re an article they Tweeted on “learner-centered” education. Not to be confused with CHILD-centered education, which presupposes the humanity of both the student and the teacher, learner-centered education replaces teachers with computers that can deliver “individualized” content. http://gettingsmart.com/news/digital-learning-is-critical-for-move-to-learner-centered-instruction/ I mean….REALLY? How could I not?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
As both a parent and an educator, I am keenly attuned to the issue of standardized testing and am absolutely appalled at how it seems to have become the epicenter of instructional decision making. Last week, I learned that a Pearson field test for ELA would be given in my son’s third grade classroom so I contacted the principal to inquire about the protocol for boycotting this test. I was advised to keep my son home from school as the directive from the state was that if the child was present, it was required that he be given the test. The principal advised me that the test would be given first thing in the morning on Wednesday, June 6 and that I could safely assume that it would be done by 10:30 AM at which time I could bring him to school. As per these suggestions, I kept my son home from school during which time he practiced the piano and read Harry Potter for 45 minutes. As fate would have it, when I dropped my son off at school at 10:30, his child’s teacher was “running a bit behind” and was still administering the test. Despite my wishes and actions to prevent him from taking the test, he was given the test anyway. When I learned of this occurrence, I contacted the principal who apologized profusely. I asked what recourse I had with regard to having his test pulled and destroyed. In addition to the principal, I have spoken to the assistant superintendent and a woman who works in New York State’s assessment office in Albany. They have all told me that I have no recourse. According to them, this field testing is in the best interest of my child and they were just doing what they were told to do. So in spite of my boycott, my wishes, and their gross error, they are sorry, but there is nothing they can do. His results will be sent to Pearson.
This is in the best interest of my child? From where I stand, my child’s interests would be best served by giving him time to read books of his choice and time to practice writing thoughtfully and persuasively. It would be in his best interest to conduct experiments and collaborate with peers to solve problems and grow new ideas. This field test, the state test, and the test-driven curriculums that follow don’t support any of these things. And as far as I can see, the only one who “benefits” from this is Pearson.
As a parent, I feel violated. And angry. I don’t understand how Pearson has the right to impose upon my child’s education like this without my consent. I am confused and disappointed in my school district who dared to suggest that this is what is right and best for my child. It makes me realize how defeated educators feel and how they have succumbed to the pressures of our data driven culture. We have forgotten what really matters—children and learning. Educators appear beleaguered and beaten by this battle which means just what you have said, Diane. It is time to awaken the sleeping giant. Children are the heart of our schools and the best voice for children are the ones who love them most: their parents. I hope this is only the beginning of the rally cry.
LikeLike
The parents could just keep their children home on test days in my opinion. The test are worthless anyway. Second, teachers could call in sick….most are probably sick at heart anyway.. a non-violent protest. It worked in the 60’s for civil rights, and I see this as another civil rights movement. I would send notarized signed letters forbidding the testing of my children, that is if you allow them to attend school during the duration of the worthless tests.
The parents in NY apparently are not seeing the whole picture in restructuring. First, they should organize and oppose charter/voucher/choice schools. Second, they should become aware of the School-to-Work Act. This may be obtained from the Government Printing House, or check on line. They should never allow their children to be enrolled in a charter school. They should never allow their children to be in a workforce training track. This is a global movement promoted through the UN to meet the need of the global economy… see “Education For All”.
Protect our children and our democratic principles! Stand beside good teacher and administrators and stand for “due process” – a Constitutional right of all Americans. The people behind this non-democratic movement may deny tenure to teachers but they can not deny due process. Every American has the right to be heard; do not allow anyone to silence you. Stand for children! Stand for freedom!
LikeLike
[…] testing represents a strike at the foundation of Bush’s reform package. Education historian Diane Ravitch sees the meaning of all this: “……parents–the sleeping giant–have been […]
LikeLike