Tim Farley and his wife opted their children out of the state testing.
They don’t care to know whether their young children are college-and-career-ready.
They know their children are doing well in school. They think the system is sick.
They know the tests will inflict unnecessary pain on children who have disabilities and children whose native language is not English.
They are doing what they can to break the system.
They are conscientious citizens.
May their numbers grow.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you Diane,
This is a bright spot in your writing. They know their children and only need outside influence if it helps their children’s learning.
Dick Velner – Parent, Teacher and Curriculum Writer
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Diane,
You’re a saint as well. Evidently, he thinks you are awaiting his approval.
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But schools loose money if students don’t test. What do you suggest we as teachers do?
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Lose! Sorry
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Opt out anyway. The money we “lose” has strings attached to it. Think that metaphor through, because it really describes how the scam works.
We get a grant to facilitate some aspect of the testing regime, but overall the kids get beaten down and mugged, and the money goes right back to their corporate data masters. It’s rigged.
Here’s a good cartoon by Pulitzer Prize winner Walt Handelsman.
http://www.newsday.com/opinion/walt-handelsman-1.812005/sketch-common-core-1.5863276
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To me the most helpful thing a teacher or school can do is support parents who choose to opt out by making it as easy on the child as possible. In my state (and probably others) if the student opts out they must be in the classroom and sit quietly through the test. If the teachers can find a way to lessen the stigma on the child somehow then more families might opt out and the movement could grow.
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Very cool. Thanks!!!
Sent from my iPhone
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State Opt Out/Refusal Guides found HERE.
http://unitedoptout.com/opt-outrefusal-guides-for-each-state/
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Linda, I am glad you keep posting that. Good work.
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Showing my age again, but it reminds me of the antiwar slogan from the Vietnam era (and I may be paraphrasing here): “What if they had a war and no one came?” We could tweak it just a tad and make it relevant to our cause.
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I think the Opt Op movement is a very good approach to sending the message to these so called educators that their tests don’t work and are more harmful than good.
I don’t believe the lie that “any data is good data” especially when students and teachers have to go through all of the hoop jumping before test day.
I wonder if we can opt our kids out of the whole process, including the test prep? It would be interesting to see what would happen if we had whole classrooms of “opt out” students who just studied the curriculum and standards and ignored the testing process.
The pain of testing is real, and it’s physical and mental. I was a district testing coordinator and ran the state testing for make-up students and the summer re-tread program for students who had not become proficient while in high school.
I saw and counseled boys and girls who just broke down under the pressure. It’s a bit unnerving to have a 260 pound football lineman blubbering on your shoulder because he’s in his “last chance” to pass the bleeping exam before graduation.
Like many states, and I won’t mention names here, cadres of teachers took their subject area state exams, the released items that is, typical of what their students see. In my state the 20 or so middle and HS math teachers that voluntarily took the 10th grade math state exam, made up of released items that I pulled from several sources, were pretty surprised at the difficulty. I let them self-score but it sure gave them an eye opening experience.
For some reason, my view of the Language Arts/essay tests and the Reading tests was they were much fairer than the math and science exams, although the science exams focus mainly on the application of the scientific method.
Thanks for listening
Retired Jim
poohcornerpens@hotmail.com
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I have not a clue what the Archdiocese that I teach for will be using for assessing the Common Core curriculum, but I am sure that at least after this year we will no longer be using the ITBS for our yearly standardized testing, unless they upgrade to match Common Core. I do know that I will be quietly sharing information with as many parents as I can at my school to OPT THEIR CHILDREN OUT!
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Good for you! Thank you.
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Thank you for this, Diane. And YES…”May their numbers grow.”
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I love this.
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Fordham and Harvard are purposefully using their power and authority to direct politicians on how to use these destructive policies.
two sociologists expose the model Fordham is pushing :
Quote “Logan and Molotch write that politicians and business elite try to dominate economic development in many cities by restricting opposition to controversial projects. They describe how politicians and development officials develop specific strategies to exclude community participation from all stages of the development process. The combination of political and business interests pushing economic growth frequently does not wait for grass-roots opposition to develop, but seeks to eliminate all potential challengers from the moment the project begins. ”
—————
When residents’ claims on behalf of [important] values threaten to undermine growth (as defined by Peterson at Harvard/Fordham)the government can turn back the challenge, either by invoking police power or by distracting dissidents with payoffs.”
These are the strategies we are seeing play out. Petrilli is complaining today about the “backlash” when he tries to run the steam roller over citizens, taxpayers, students, teachers etc…… Using the term “backlash” he again places a pejorative term on his opponents who disagree with him.
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I give credit for the concepts and ideas and the quote to
URBAN FORTUNES ; citizen participation in politics is sharply curtailed by politicians and entrepreneurs committed to the machine (which I am calling a steam roller)
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How can parents legally opt their children out of standardized testing without jeopardizing their students’ or schools’ grades?
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Home school your children for the testing window time frame. Go to the school fill out the paperwork to withdraw them with the reason that they will be being homeschooled. Then re-enroll them for the day after the testing window closes. If the school threatens your child with retaliation, perhaps through grade manipulation, let them know you will not tolerate it and that they’d best work with you on getting a “free and appropriate” education for your child.
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In Massachusetts, the MCAS only has consequences for the student at the high school level where the final MCAS test (10th grade?) is required to receive a diploma.
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I gave my 6th grade daughter this option to opt out on the MCAS this year and she didn’t want to. It would have been hard on her to sit through the test and not take it while those around her worked away on it. She’s already a sensitive child and didn’t want the stigma and stares from classmates.
In Massachusetts you can opt out, but you have to be present in the classroom while others take it. If you stay home to avoid the test, you’re truant.
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Anyone try getting a note from the doctor for an excused absence, then writing a letter refusing the test?
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