In response to the news that teachers in Buffalo and Cooperstown support opt out, the media has been silent, according to this comment:
“It is troubling that this news has received no coverage through Western New York’s corporate media outlets. Also noted that the only place I was informed about the Rochester Teacher Association resolution (last week) concerning parental opt out was Diane Ravitch’s blog. We will need to be creative and use digital media to get the word out to build momentum promoting OPT OUT. Help spread the word–this needs to go viral! Don’t feed the Tisch/Cuomo/King testing agenda!”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Use your cell phone cameras at public meetings and demonstrations, and post all reports on youtube, with #optout notices on twitter, to get the word out!
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The lack of media coverage in Western New York to save public education from the promises of Governor Cuomo to destroy it is not the only hurdle the burgeoning grassroots movement faces.
The Buffalo News is overtly biased against public education and in favor of charters. That is the conclusion of the yet to be published study by Buffalo State College professor Dr. Andrea Nikischer.
Locally we know this thanks to the incredible reporting of Shane Meyer of The Daily Public.
There is an “Education Spring” blooming across New York and alternative media is the best place to stay current with these developments.
Here’s the link: http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/03182015/study-reveals-bias-buffalo-news-education-reporting
Meyer’s critique of the Buffalo News’ support of Regent Emeritus Robert Bennett provides great detail of on such example of this bias.
http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/03102015/bennett-dropped-regents-buffalo-news-wrings-hands
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There was a brief article in the Democrat&Chronicle about the Rochester teachers’ resolution, but it was mangled to suggest they teachers were protesting the Regents exams, not the whole package of standardized tests. However, in fairness, that paper has printed much better articles about the opt-out movement and other reformista topics, such as charter schools.
FYI, folks in Geneva, NY are wide-awake on these issues and have been too for a while. Very good turnout at a rally and forum just this week:
http://www.fltimes.com/news/article_1edd3f5e-cf06-11e4-9abe-ff9058c4b3ff.html
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There has been coverage of the opt out movement in the Buffalo area. Here’s just one of the stories : http://wivb.com/2015/03/12/taxpayers-question-proposing-state-testing-boycott/
Hysteria and oversimplification only serve to detract from the seriousness and genuine challenges.
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Exactly how can the opt out (refusal) movement bring the Regents Reform Agenda to an end? What are the specific mechanics/data drivers involved? No one seems to be able to answer this question. I fear the reason is, that it can’t. Not on a large scale, statewide basis. Ihabod Crane school district may approach 100% refusals. That eliminates the use of test scores for teacher and school evaluations just for math and ELA teachers grades 3 to 8. Then what?
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Opting out and refusing the test will get the attention of legislators and the Board of Regents. I think, however, we in NYS need to go one further and press for constitutional change. I think the Regents should be elected by a democratic vote, state-wide by region. Currently, the Regents are appointed/annointed by the Legislature and not truly accountable to the public.
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Those same legislators are about to approve most of Cuomo’s education agenda. And when the NCLB act is re-authorized in Obama/veto-proof form. we will be officially stuck with test-and-punish federal reform as LAW. For 7 years. You seem to forget that David Coleman (and all other edu-fakers) does not give a shit what we think.
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Here’s the “attention” that PARC and SBAC opt outs got from Arne Duncan:
“Millions of kids all across the country are taking the tests. We’re fine.”
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Just because it is the law does not mean people need to respect the law and comply. Gandhi made clear it is a person’s duty to take a non-violent stand against immoral laws. Do not allow your children to become a part of the Tisch/Cuomo/King/Duncan corporate test and punish agenda.
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If enough students refuse the tests, there is insufficient data to rate teachers and schools.
Teachers can relax and focus on teaching holistic, engaging, collaborative and comprehensive lessons, as opposed to narrowly focused test prep.
Students can relax, and rediscover their love of learning.
Parents can having meaningful conversations with teachers during which they obtain and discuss relevant assessment information that enables them to be true partners in their student’s education.
Schools can relax and focus on educating the whole child, instead of being drill-and-kill test-focused factories. We can restore recess, social studies, science, music, art, PE and health to our children’s days.
We stop feeding the Pearson machine, which transforms tax dollars into corporate profit, for a corporation that is not even based in the United States.
Yes, after 2-3 years of participation below 95%, schools may be required to complete a Local Assistance Plan. But who would want to send their child to a school that does NOT periodically bring the principal together with a team of teachers, support staff and parents to ask questions like, “Do our students feel safe at school?” “Do we communicate effectively with parents?” “Does the principal have a system in place for conducting frequent observations of staff and providing targeted feedback?” “Do teachers receive timely individualized and group professional development?” “Do teachers have the opportunity to collaboratively develop lessons that integrate arts and technology?” ‘Does the school use a cohesive and comprehensive curriculum that is aligned both vertically and across grade levels?” Etc.
This kind of ongoing, reflective practice is the foundation for true, continuous improvement. Ironically, schools that focus on tests, test prep, and high test scores would fall short in many of the areas identified for focus in the LAP.
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What do you mean by “enough students”? What is the exact threshold at which test score data is officially disabled? Do you have a % that is listed by NYSED? As far as I know, this number doesn’t exist. This is nothing more than urban legend. My NYSUT rep told me that they will use whatever numbers they get. No one involved with this ed-reform regime cares one whit about what we think. They really don’t.
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Far too many being paid to drink the Kool Aid. Far too many like the taste. Far too many believe the Kool Aid has health benefits. Far too many have stock in Kool Aid. Far too many.
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They like the taste of the green green cash; the kool aid, not so much. When they get caught with their mouths on the glass, oooops.
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cross-posted at
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Media-Blackout-on-Teacher-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Diane-Ravitch_Help_Media_Media-Complicity-150321-728.html#comment537988with this comment which contains embedded links at the site.
Never have the stakes attached to testing been higher. If a student doesn’t reach proficient on a Common Core test where most students will not reach proficient (a passing mark set artificially high), the student is a failure, her teacher is ineffective, and the school is stigmatized. How to counter this madness?
go here: The Network for Public Education which supports opting out of Common Core tests.
Read about high stakes testing
High Stakes Testing Makes Surveillance Necessary – Living in Dialogueand here Bob Shepherd: Why PARCC Testing is Meaningless and Useless
But teachers across th nation are being punished for informing parents of the right to opt out.Bill Ashton, an English teacher at Jacqueline M. Walsh High School in Pawtucket (RI), has been suspended for telling students about “OPT-Out” and other aspects of the Common Core-inspired PAARC test. The students and many parents in the school are protesting his suspension.
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More media coverage of Upstate activism. Shout out to teachers and advocates for public education in the Finger Lakes region!
http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Teachers-bring-1-000-apples-to-NY-Gov-Cuomo-in-6147898.php#photo-7688571
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The traditional media blackout of this events in the U.S. is no surprise. After all, 90% of the traditional media that feeds America corporate censored propaganda is owned and controlled by six global corporations—the 2nd largest in the world is Media Corp that’s controlled by Rupert Murdock and FOX news is part of Media Corp. Don’t forget tha
How is this different from the Chinese Communist Party in China censoring what the state media in China feeds 1.3 billion Chinese.
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I messed up and somehow posted the previous comment by mistake. Sorry. Maybe it has to do with how angry I am, how fast I am typing and how hard I’m hitting the keyboard with my fingers.
The traditional media blackout of this events in the U.S. is no surprise. After all, 90% of the traditional media that feeds America corporate censored propaganda is owned and controlled by six global corporations—the 2nd largest in the world is Media Corp that’s controlled by Rupert Murdock and FOX news is part of Media Corp. Don’t forget that Murdock was a partner with Gates in a failed attempt to gather information on our children and then use it in anyway they could to profit and/or control the thinking of those children as they grew up.
How is this different from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in China censoring what the state media in China feeds 1.3 billion Chinese? By the way, there are only 80 million members of the CCP in China. That leaves about 1.3 billion who don’t belong to the party and they grew up distrusting anything they hear from the state media so they turn to the Internet and social media to find out what other Chinese are thinking about issues reported in the media. There are more blogs in China than any country on the planet and China’s internet social media is very active.
Isn’t that what Americans are also starting to do—turning to social media, for instance, Diane’s Blog, for news we can trust more than we will probably ever trust most of the traditional media?
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Right, Lloyd, & this is why speedy internet access for the 99% has been under attack (& don’t expect them to stop, either).
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I don’t expect any of these greedy @$$ H*l*s to stop even if they all ended up in prison.
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Guerrilla marketing seems to be taking off in WNY as a means to spread the message as well.
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With Cuomo trying to make standardized testing count for 50% of teacher evaluation it is critical that this year’s opt out program expand markedly from one year ago. When we get to 50% of kids being tested his call for 50% weighting will look foolish. Do not allow your children to become a part of the Cuomo/Tisch/King testing machine! Act now–and promote opt out within your community. The tide is shifting…promote awareness and what is good for children.
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Ditch the corporate tea. I mean tests. A better hashtag may catch more media attention. Suggestion:
#PearsonTeaParty
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Yep–we’re takin’ the tea & throwin’ it in the harbor! Or–better yet–let’s take the TESTS & throw ’em in our nearby harbors, lakes, rivers, streams, lagoons & oceans!
Let’s make our ancestors proud: don’t agonize–organize!
I hereby name us The Boston TE$T Party! (Already in a city near you, if not your own!)
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And if there is no harbor and the tests might clog the toilet, then use a shredder.
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More districts need to follow up on the courageous actions taken by Rochester, Buffalo, and Cooperstown. Right now NYSED is trying to head off a significantly larger OPT OUT than last year by making threats against school districts and individual professionals. OPT OUT must embarrass Cuomo and Tisch–it is the only strategy that will put NY on a new trajectory! If you believe Tisch and Cuomo are concerned about your children send them in to take the exam–if not throw some stones into the turning gears–and do what is right for kids and teachers.
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We have been told there is no “opt out” provision in New York State. Our students will be given a test regardless of any letter or form their parents may send or print. This is what parents in our district are being told. Refusal, however is something else. Students will still be expected to sit for tests they do not take.
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