Opt Out Orlando posted the following letter by Susan Bowles, a kindergarten teacher. For her courage and dedication to her students, Susan Bowles joins the honor roll.
Her husband wrote this introduction:
“I tried to share this post by my wife, Susan, last night. I just found out her privacy settings don’t let others see it. I am very proud of her stance and completely support her, even if it means she loses her job. That would mean someone whose passion has always been about teaching little kids would be out of the profession. She began teaching in 1977.”
Susan Bowles wrote:
Dear Facebook Friends,
I have just sent emails to my principal and CRT, the superintendent, my colleagues at school, the school board members, ACEA (local teachers’ union) and the Gainesville Sun. I have a letter ready to go to the parents of the children in my class, pending principal approval which is standard protocol.
WHY I AM REFUSING TO GIVE THE FAIR TEST TO MY KINDERGARTNERS!
We have given the FAIR assessment in the past but this year it was revamped. It does provide useful information, but nothing significantly superior to what a typical Kindergarten teacher would observe in her students. This year, it is more time consuming and more difficult. Kindergartners are required to take it on the computer using a mouse. FYI: Kindergartners aren’t born with mouse skills. Many of them are proficient on tablets or smartphones, but the mouse can be tricky. (While testing a child last week, she double-clicked which skipped a screen. This child double-clicked three times and triple clicked once. There is no way to go back. There is no way for the school administrator to go back and make a correction.) While we were told it takes about 35 minutes to administer, we are finding that in actuality, it is taking between 35-60 minutes per child.
This assessment is given one-on-one. It is recommended that both teacher and child wear headphones during this test. Someone has forgotten there are other five year olds in our care. There is no provision from the state for money for additional staff to help with the other children in the classroom while this testing is going on. A certified teacher has to give the test. If you estimate that it takes approximately 45 minutes per child to give this test and we have 18 students, the time it takes to give this test is 13 ½ instructional hours. If you look at the schedule, a rough estimate would be that it requires about one full week of instructional time to test all of the children.
Our Kindergarten teachers have been brainstorming ways to test and still instruct. The best option we have come up with is for teachers to pair up, with one teacher instructing two classes while the other teacher tests one-on-one. So now we are looking at approximately TWO WEEKS of true INSTRUCTIONAL TIME LOST. We will not be putting them in front of a movie or having extended playtime, but the reality is that with 35 students, instruction is not the same. FAIR TESTING IS DONE THREE TIMES A YEAR!
I KNOW I MAY BE IN BREACH OF MY CONTRACT BY NOT ADMINISTERING THIS TEST. I CANNOT IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SUBMIT TO ADMINISTERING THIS TEST THREE TIMES A YEAR, LOSING SIX WEEKS OF INSTRUCTION. THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY I WILL BE FIRED.
I am heartsick over the possibility of losing my job. I love my job. There is nothing I would rather do than teach. I have cried and cried over this, but in the end, it’s not about me. I feel God wants me to stand up for what is best for children. So, come what may, this is my stance. I WILL NOT ADMINISTER THE FAIR TEST TO MY STUDENTS.
If you are wondering what you can do, first and foremost, pray that the testing situation for children in Florida will change. Secondly, if you are a teacher or administrator, tell your story. This is not an education problem. This is a state government problem.
Whom should you contact? Governor Scott sits at the top in the chain of command. I say, voice your concerns to him. He actually might listen since he’s up for reelection. Just Read Florida is the group that masterminded the new version of FAIR. Let them know what you think about it. This issue isn’t about one teacher. This is a springboard for educators and parents to tell their stories. Please, let your voice be heard.
Thanks to Becky Jones Young, my childhood friend and fellow lifelong teacher, for taking a stand of her own in Ohio. She was an amazing middle school English teacher, who quit teaching (her love, joy and passion) because she could no longer participate in cheating children out of fun, creativity and enriching learning – in the name of education.
Susan Bowles
Kindergarten Teacher
Lawton Chiles Elementary School
Gainesville, Florida
Diane Ravitch's blog 
you are very brave. good luck to you.
Dear Susan.
Bless your heart.
It’d be nice of more teachers rallied to your brave, principled act….but don’t hold your breath.
And as both you and husband noted, it may cost your job.
And that is truly a shame.
And it may cost her students their caring teacher – another colossal shame.
Well, maybe they can get a teacher in there that wants to play by the rules and doesn’t make excuses for why she shouldn’t have to meet the same standards as every other teacher. Maybe she, instead of complaining could use that energy preparing herself and her students for the evaluation of her teaching abilities. In the other comments, it was noted that this teacher actually works in an affluent area, I would assume that means that most of her student speak english, so that would not even be a barrier for her. Stop being a “poor teacher” and start being an empowered teacher-TEACH.
Good for you!!!
“Whom should you contact?”
It’s just like what we tell kids to do if they’re being abused. Tell someone who can help you. If that person doesn’t listen or respond, tell someone else. Keep telling until you get someone to listen and help. In short, tell everyone, loudly and often.
She’s not being abused, she’s refusing to perform necessary duties required by her employment.
In response to Susan Bowles’ brave act:
First, thank you for your bravery. You spoke for the children and not your job. I, too, had been an older educator with other 30 years teaching experience. I taught in NJ. I could no longer teach to the standards and make my student IEP’s and needs fit those standards. I taught students with severe multiple disabilities who were expected to complete grade level tests when their actual levels were two to three grade levels behind. Because I taught a split grade level, I lost 2 weeks of instruction time every May. The special educators in our district were evaluated on teaching to a model that reflected standards based instruction. If we used methods that had been successful and addressed specific skills, we were given a low score. If our students did not obtain proficiency on the test, it affected 40% of my evaluation which would be tied into salary. Poor evaluations for two years would be a cause for dismissal. Instead of fighting, I took an early retirement without the benefit of healthcare and now am seeking employment after fifteen years with that district and in that state.
It our society where teachers are delegated to clerks, where our expertise and craft are not valued, where our hard work is not appreciated and where we have no say in the curriculum set by corporations, I am hoping that your act will make a difference. Thank you for doing what many of my colleagues and I, did not due. Although we spoke up, we didn’t go far enough and threw in the towel.
Denise Mueller
“Kinderguarding”
(versification of Kindergarten teacher Susan Bowles)
I will not test, I will not squander
Another second on this plunder
Of my students precious day
To learn and grow in Kinder way
How VERY tragic that it has come to this. Her efforts are to be applauded, LOUDLY, but as stated in the above blog it seems to me that a concerted, well organized, comprehensive – with many organizations – effort must be made to stop this insanity. The media largely unreports or under reports our side but loudly proclaims the corporate propaganda and as here, the bravery of one individual gets lost in the grand scheme of things with horrific results. Money supplants people in importance so what can reasonably expect with that kind of philosophy.
Susan, my thoughts and prayers are with you, hoping against hope you won’t lose your job for showing so much principled courage beyond what many of us have been willing to risk.
Dear Susan,
You are very brave. It is not recommended for a four or five year old to wear headphones. Isn’t this child abuse?
Good luck and best wishes.
I shared this on my FB page from another person’s share. Parents and reasonable people should understand this. I am proud of and sad for Susan Bowles on so many levels. It is not easy being a Kindergarten teacher. I know, I was one for one year. She has so many layers of skills that an ordinary person or beginner could not match. Why would anyone want to see someone of her caring and competence leave the classroom? It is ridiculous. Let’s all share this and try to get people to see specifically what is going on. One thought I had, not the best, I know, but I think if the state insists on keeping the test, hire testers and let them work with the poor little children. The teachers should teach and also should be able to teach to the best of their ability. We should be judging the “output” not the “input” to reach a goal. If someone is not reaching the goal, figure out why. Offer ideas and opportunities to grow and develop. No real teacher wants to see the incompetent or under-performing teachers stay and bring everyone down. That is not the point. Good principals should be able to figure that out. And there are tons of ways to be competent. It is called teaching style. Let each become a master teacher. Encourage this and provide the support. Getting kids out of poverty and supporting parenting where there is a single parent who may need/want help is where the money should be going, not to making, giving and grading tests. I salute your courage, Susan Bowles and hope we will hear that your school is going to listen to you. You deserve an award.
“One thought I had, not the best, I know, but I think if the state insists on keeping the test, hire testers and let them work with the poor little children.”
Quite correct, Janet, in it not being “the best”. The best–get rid of the testing completely.
I know, Duane. You are 100% correct. I think it is absurd and beyond to think the state thinks that this is anything but education malpractice. My thought, not the best, again, I admit that, is that if ALL teachers refuse to administer the tests, and the state has to try to pay to have it done, maybe then they would realize it is too costly and perhaps, then, they would give up. However, I agree, NO testing of Kindergarten children and reasonable testing of other grades ie achievement tests in spring on a varied gr. level basis perhaps and NO VAM. Back in the day in NY the 3rd grades had state testing……and gr. 4 and 5 did not. For a while gr. 5 had a writing test. But all the rest just had school selected testing for reading and math. It was doable. It had a chance to inform instruction. Now all they want is some sort of unsubstantiated way to sort and label on an unproven set of standards. And for what purpose, there is the rub. Of course.
Susan has been my friend forever. I am so very proud of her conviction and determination – definitely has her beloved students’ best interests at heart. And, to echo almost everyone else…how sad that it has come to this. A great teacher should never have to put her job on the line by doing what is right for them.
This has to change.
Susan teaches at an excellent school in Gainesville. The parents for the most part are affluent and educated. THEY need to take up the mantle for the teachers. If parents don’t protect their children, then the teachers won’t have a fighting chance. There should be JUST OPT OUT posters across the street from every parent pick up ramp in every school in Florida. The unions should put billboards up. They should be putting fliers in the mail. WHERE IS THE ACTION??? Are our unions listening?? Parents??
Yes, the unions are listening.
To the dollars that they get from Gates, etc. . . .
Parents ARE listening. I asked that my K and 1st graders not have to take the weekly and unit assessments that go along with the scripted curricular reading program materials that are “CC aligned.” These aren’t state mandated tests, these are district selected. These are weekly tests for the littlest. The email response i received was, “Your request is denied.”
I’m a teacher, but also a parent. What right do parents have in limiting something they feel is harmful to their children in a public school setting? Is this right just reserved for those wealthy enough to homeschool or send their children to private schools? We, rightly and gladly, make accommodations when children of families with religious objections want certain activities restricted. What if my objection is not religious, but conscious?
Amy,
“What if my objection is not religious, but conscious?”
Your objection is no different than a “religious” objection and probably better from a rational logical approach than one of “faith” based reasons. The edudeformers have “faith” based reasons for advocating for their desired educational malpractices.
Let the administration know that to give the tests is against your “beliefs”. If they come at you with something to the effect of “what religion is your belief based on?”, just tell them they are your beliefs and that they cannot force you to do something against your beliefs.
I don’t stand and say the pledge, the law mandated public school once a week ritual. When students ask I say “It’s against my beliefs.” I haven’t had a problem yet.
Well done Susan. I also am refusing to administer the test. However, I still can’t protect the children. This is what I wrote from my blog www dot pegwithpen dot com
Parents, I Cannot Protect Your Children
I will do my best. But my best isn’t good enough – and I think that is the point I really want to make here.
Across the nation teachers are fighting back hard. Across the nation – actually across the world – teachers will shut their doors and do their best to protect children from high stakes testing, test prep, nonstop district and state mandated testing and more. But – the truth is this, our best is not good enough, because in order to attempt to do our best we are jumping through hoops, shutting our door to secretly do what is right for children, spending our own money on resources for our classrooms and on supplies for children who have none, and we are spending hours and hours gaming our way through “teach to the test” curriculum and massive amounts of mandated corporate formative and summative assessment – in order to attempt to “do our best.”
So, I’m going to be blunt here. I cannot do my best under these conditions. I can attempt to do my best, but my best under these conditions is not good enough. And my attempts to play the game and resist where I can will not be enough to protect your children from what is happening.
Also – I want to make it clear that by shutting our doors and attempting to do our best, we are able to protect your children a bit more, but shutting our doors and keeping quiet about the harmful practices that have infiltrated our schools is only adding to our problems – if we think long term. Short term, yes – it helps us do what is right for children. Long term, it only promotes a false reality that allows parents to think, it isn’t really that bad. Long term, it assists in the dismantling of public education and our profession. Finally, shutting the door doesn’t allow teachers to hide from the databases which demand us to enter your child’s data on all these assessments. The data mining has begun full force.
So, yes, I’ll do my best. I have even refused to administer the common core PARCC assessment this year – I can do that to protect children. But let’s be clear on this – even though I have refused to administer the PARCC test, there will be someone there to take my place.
And I cannot protect children from certain non-negotiables within common core curriculum and on-going assessment. We cannot protect the children from the common core professional development which takes us away from our buildings and leaves children with substitute teachers. As a literacy coach, I do what I can to rephrase and rid my school of corporate reform language such as rigor, grit, calibrate, accountability, no excuses and college and career ready. I can even replace these words with language that represents inquiry, heart, relationships, community, equity, creativity and more. But ultimately, all of my attempts are simply band aids.
Even though I have done my best to make writing “on-demand” prompts developmentally appropriate for kindergarten (let’s face facts -there is NO such thing), it is still an “on-demand” writing prompt for kindergarten. Even though I will do everything in my power to support children in their inquiries about bugs, outer space, poetry, sports, cooking, their favorite authors, music, art, history and more; I cannot stop the testing train which makes stops in every classroom every week in some shape or form. The classroom is no longer driven by the rhythm of learning, it is driven by the testing schedule which continually interrupts our children’s talk and exploration of their interests – the testing schedule extinguishes the passion for learning. It makes all of us tired with the constant stop. start. stop start. as we try to regroup and get back on track with the real learning that is occurring in the classrooms. I can’t tell you how many “ah ha” moments have been lost for children as they had to break away from their projects, their thinking, their conversation, in order to hunker down over an assessment as they labor for the corporations.
And in the midst of all this testing, we are surrounded by new common core curriculum that is embedded with test prep, scripted lessons and more – and this is what we are doing – we are trying to read through all this curriculum while asking ourselves, “How can we use this curriculum and still do what is best for children? How can we make the best of this? How can we pull out the good stuff and leave the rest? How can we look like we are being good little soldiers and still do what is right for children?”
Now – as teachers swim through this new common core curriculum, because we are expected to do so, understand that this takes immense amounts of time away from what we should be focusing on – the children. It takes time to figure out which parts of the curriculum will be non-negotiable and which parts we can skip or substitute what we know is best for children. So, as I swim through mounds of new common core curriculum in order to “do my best” I simply will not be doing my best because being required to maneuver through such madness in order to TRY to do my best – let’s face facts – is simply not good enough for your children. They deserve better. Our attention should be on the children – not the demands of the common core curriculum and high stakes testing.
I ask this – do you believe that the teachers at Sidwell (school of President Obama’s children) are asking these questions and jumping through these hoops? Does anyone believe that Malia and Sasha are faced with the stop. start. stop. start. of continual onslaughts of corporate testing throughout the year?
Of course not. Sidwell students have ample resources and no common core curriculum or testing. Sidwell teachers are allowed to do their best and focus on the children.
Now, some might say I exaggerate, but I promise, I don’t. Test prep and common core curriculum come in many disguises. Publishers and those who write this curriculum are slick at embedding test prep into the curriculum. They are slick at trying to convince teachers and the public that this is good for children.
Sadly, there are many teachers who do not realize what is happening to their profession or to our public schools. Some still say, “This too shall pass.” They think it’s just one more new thing that will eventually move along like every new mandate. Some laugh at me and think I am extreme. Heck, my own state and national union supports the common core, while I sit here and watch it dumb down my own school and my son’s school every week. I watch it take autonomy from teachers and turn creative thinking into carefully disguised skill/drill.
The depth of this reform is not always visible to the naked eye – intentionally so. But for those teachers watching keenly, we have eagle eye vision for these changes – as this is OUR profession – our turf. If I was doing my best, I’d tell every parent every thing I know about these reforms. But if I did that, I’d get fired.
You see, we are not supposed to share with you the developmentally inappropriateness of kindergarten classrooms in our buildings. We also sign agreements that prohibit us from telling you about the child that cried through the entire high stakes test or the child who bit his finger nails to the quick during the test. We are not supposed to tell you that the report cards are a joke and mean nothing. We are not supposed to tell you that your children don’t even have to take these tests and that these tests are culturally and racially biased. We are not supposed to tell you that the children are bouncing off the walls because they only get one fifteen minute recess a day. We aren’t supposed to tell you that the new “big thing” is brain breaks in order to help your children cope with the fact that they aren’t allowed to have more recess.
We are supposed to make the best of it. We are not supposed to explain that the new curriculum and new chrome books are really here for one reason – to increase performance on the common core tests. We are not supposed to tell you that every year your child is spending more time laboring for the corporations as new tests and test prep get added. There are lots of bells and whistles that disguise the truth of this common core curriculum and testing regime surrounding your children – and we are supposed to do our best and ring those bells and smile when you are around.
If you want to protect your children, you must begin by refusing all the tests. Even as I, a teacher, refuse to administer the PARCC, it will not stop the PARCC from moving forward. My union is not behind me ready to organize and back all the teachers if they were to refuse to administer the PARCC, so I stand alone. And even if my union did organize the teachers to refuse to administer the PARCC test, my union still supports common core – so I still can’t protect children and I still can’t “do my best” because common core and high stakes testing cannot be decoupled. Believe me – I’ll keep working hard at the grassroots level to shift our union, but it won’t happen over night. In the meantime, your children are suffering.
Some days I feel like a nurse inside a war tent with wounded soldiers. And no matter how brave I am, no matter how much I stand up to these reforms, it is not enough – they have taken away so much of my power, and my ability to make professional decisions in order to protect children and do what is right for all children.
I teach at a school with 73% free/reduced lunch. Over 40 languages are spoken within my school. I know what our children need – they need wrap around services for poverty, books, librarians, small class size, health care, nurses, counselors, recess, quality food, and the opportunity to express their interests as they talk, read, write, play, sing, dance, create and smile. But you see, that doesn’t create corporate profit. Poverty must be ignored in order to keep corporate profit churning.
Parents, I cannot protect your children. I must be honest in telling you that the war is alive and well in our classrooms, and children are being harmed every day. What is happening is evil, cruel and abusive. Refuse the tests and deny the corporations the profit, deny the district, state and federal government your child’s data (which they can share with corporations), deny the publishing companies the opportunity to create more common core products. Without the data, the profit ends and we have an opportunity to reclaim our public schools, our profession. We have an opportunity to do what is right for all children. I am done smiling and saying, I am doing my best. I’m not.
Peggy, I am speechless! You’ve nailed it like I’ve never seen! This is being placed in EVERY mailbox in my building. WOW.
I second “riled” above.
This is an exceptionally clear and heartfelt assessment of the current situation.
And that is actually saying a great deal because the level of thought and expression (and courage) on this blog (by the host and those who comment) is very high in general.
After reading the informed, eloquent writing from the vast majority of the people here, it actually pains me to read and listen to stuff (fluff) by “reformers” because it is so shallow, vapid and confused — and confusing (possibly quite purposefully).
It’s pretty clear to anyone with a brain who the real education experts are –and who the pretenders are (the ones who support VAMs, endless vacuous testing (for Kindergarteners, no less!), age inappropriate standards and all the rest and who use all the empty buzzwords like “rigor”, “benchmarks” and stenchmarks (I just made that one up, but it’s no dumber than any of the others)
If anyone wakes up the American public and pulls America through the completely irrational (insane*) times we are currently experiencing, it will be folks like those who comment here.
*only from the POV of the public. From the POV of those who are cashing in, it is quite rational.
Please move to a different country. At the very least find a new profession. Spending all day in lala land does in fact sound pretty good, but when is it that the children will be learning in your fantasy world where they sing and dance and have recess all day long? Kids can play after school.. Do you not think these kids already have access to books at the library, free healthcare, free counseling, free food (breakfast and lunch at school AND food stamps), freedom of speech and expression. You are delirious, have you been smoking baths salts again?
Susan Bowles, Thank you for your integrity and your compassion for the children. I truly admire your actions.
*stands and claps
Susan: Thank you for your bravery. I wish I was so brave. I’m not even allowed to tell parents about their rights to opt out of testing. My license has been threatened, and I need my job.
I wasn’t allowed to tell parents about their rights to opt out either unless they came to me and specifically asked. I had a 4th grader who was just learning how to read and was finally seeing school as a good place, not a bad place. There was no way I was going to subject him to several weeks of testing, including 2 full days of writing, where each of those days the kids are given a prompt and spend the ENTIRE day writing a 5 paragraph essay.
So I made a few flyers at home with the relevant info and websites to find sample opt-out letters. I surreptitiously posted them in places I knew my parents would be – Starbucks, the public library, the closest gas station, the bus shelters. Our school secretary, who knew this particular family well, saw one of the flyers and made sure they got it. I was never so happy to see an opt-out letter in my life. My principal was less than pleased, (furious, actually) but the end result was this kiddo making it through the year on a successful note – and finally becoming a reader.
Bravo, Susan!!!!! I taught kindergarten for 6 years at Lawton Chiles Elementary school in Tampa. I complained so long and hard about the horrible amount of testing and about the cruelty of our teacher evaluation program that they switched me to second grade. Not only that, but the new principal gave me all failing marks as a teacher last year. After 21 years of teaching, suddenly I don’t know pedagogy????? Now I’m told that I have been put on a special “PLAN” and if I don’t improve, I will be fired.
Speaking of FAIR testing, we had to go and purchase our own ear buds so we could give the FAIR test!!!!!! I’m just waiting for her to walk in and criticize that my students are silently doing worksheets while I stand next to the computer doing nothing!! How can we teach the other 18 children when we have to listen and observe the one child for 40 minutes?? Don’t even start me on the absurdly rigorous questions asked of my second graders! I am so thankful that someone out there is wiling to stand up and say NO MORE!!!
Today I was chewed out by said principal because I had the gall to email our superintendent to ask a question clarifying a new rule the county made. “She’s not your best friend….she’s the head of a multi-billion dollar industry and does not have time for you to be emailing her.” Last year she criticized me because while I was reading a big book, a kindergarten boy ran out the door….she said I should have been standing between him and the door! I was also criticized for doing a power-point presentation (Answers to Questions Most Asked By Kindergarten Parents) last year at Meet-the-Teacher and this year for talking to the parents about my classroom discipline (explaining ClassDojo) in small groups as they appeared. Seems suddenly I cannot do anything correctly and every teacher around me is backing away because they all see that I’m under attack! This is what I have received for speaking truthfully about injustices.
The hoops they are asking us to jump through have reached the ridiculous!!!! But worst of all is the effect it has on our students. To give them an end-of-the-year math test on the second week of school and watch them droop because of course they don’t know any of the answers!!!! To ask students to work independently and be silent for an entire week so that we can listen in on a 40 minute computer test? So I stand with you on the injustice being done to our students and fellow teachers alike! If no one stands up and resists, then we teachers only have ourselves to blame!!! I’ll have to come up there and the two of us can share a cup of coffee while in line for unemployment!
Fire this teacher and any teacher that believes themselves to be above the rules. This is your job, not some personal cause of yours. I along with most parents want to know that you are actually providing the service (education) that you are being payed for. These test are to ensure the children are being taught effectively, without them, you may as well be playing tiddly winks all day.
Let this woman stand for her own convictions on her own time. My tax $ is being spent for her to educate children. If she doesn’t want to do that, get out! Standardized testing is not new and is essential to the education of our children.
Who is this “Donna”? She has no clue as to what is required to teach kids effectively. She has no understanding how degrading Common Core is to long-term teachers when, after years of student success, they are now told that they are not measuring up, both the students and the teachers. Accoring to Common Core, our students are robots who are supposed to know how to take a test on a computer. No thinking, no reasoning, no real debating with a text or understanding the bigger picture. It’s just read, answer question. Read, answer question. Read, answer question. Life is not like that, and you, Donna, know it.
Teachers should be able to teach according to what they KNOW their students needs. The should have the ability to emphasize skills and methods that ;theyknow their students need. They should NOT have to be told by “big brother” that all of what they have been doing is incorrect and that it should be done another way by people who have never been in a classroom.
It’s not about doing what she is hired to do. It’s about KNOWING what students need in order to learn, grow, reason, and interact with their world. It’s about telling “Big brother” to go away and stop micro-managing my classroom about stuff that you know nothing about. It would be like telling a doctor that ALL procedures must be done the same way, every time, every day. It’s not that simple. Is he NOT doing the job he was hired to do. No doctor would let an organization come in and demand compliance to their set of rules when he knows what his patients need. No one knows more than he or she does about what the patients need. The bad thing would be for the Americans Med. Assoc. to dictate a plan to him that must be followed to the letter for every patient, regardless of their needs. That is not medicine, and Common Core is not education.