Last weekend, United Opt Out sponsored a protest rally in front of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. The event was called Occupy the DOE.
Jeff Bryant of North Carolina reports on the protests here.
I spoke on Thursday afternoon of the first day. The crowd was small, which was not surprising, because it was a workday and it is expensive to travel a distance. And the event organizers had no money for travel. Everything was handmade and improvised. No funding from Gates or Walton or Broad or anyone else. No paid staff. All volunteers: teachers, parents, students, librarians, and others who were there to speak out against the DOE’s damaging policies and for a better vision for American education.
The slight media attention focused on one remark by one speaker but there were many speakers with inspiring messages, all of which were ignored.
The opposition to high-stakes testing, mass school closings, and privatization will not end. They will continue and they will grow. Why? Because they are not only wrong, they are harmful to the future of our nation and the lives of our children and grandchildren.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thanks Diane!
See pix here:
Many of us in WA State received Facebook updates from the only WA State person to attend the Occupy the DOE 2.0 event. It was heartening to know that so many very smart and committed folks were speaking truth to power.
How can we opt out of testing without affecting our school’s finances? I was told the government could withhold funds if the participation rate is too low. My school is a Title 1 school and we can’t afford to lose any funds. Also, it seems like people still use the test results as a measure of whether a school is “good” or not (even those who say test scores don’t matter). Is there another approach that could end this without a short-term harm to our schools.
I have left my comments on the article. More should do the same.
Kentucky was proudly represented by two public school teachers at the Rally and March. It’s great to feel supported. I left with the pledge that I would give my 12th graders the choice of “Opting Out” of their weekly assessments for the last six weeks. The alternative will be writing two paragraphs agreeing or disagreeing with the author of the rhetorical essay instead of answering “mindless” multiple choice questions. Which exercise will make them more “college ready?” We all know the answer to that one. In addition, I get to spread the message and educate about “Opting Out.”
AMAZING job, Unitedoptout – keep up the good fight. The numbers are growing and the masses are beginning to wake up.
I was there! I was very inspired by the speakers, especially our young people. The numbers were small, but spirits were large. Many people cheered us on as we marched, chanting all the way, to the White House!:) The word is getting out there. Thank you to all those who organized this event, you are magnificent!