Alan Singer offers seven sensible reasons to refuse to make your child take the state tests.
I will give you the reasons, and you should read his post to see his explanation.
1. The opt out movement is winning (see the Senate NCLB reauthorization bill)
2. Even Arne Duncan seems to be backing off.
3. Some politicians are still trying to divide us (don’t let them)
4. We must support parents, students, and teachers in states where they are being threatened.
5. It is not clear that standardized tests have any educational or even assessment value.
6. Teachers report poor test design.
7. Alan Singer is tired of subsidizing the mega-rich corporations like Pearson that are making money by testing children.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
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Anyone care to respond to this principal who calls parents in our district “lemmings” for joining the Opt-outmovement…..He is glad that most are “too smart” to fall for this “malarky”…his words.
https://mooreperspective.wordpress.com/2015/04/12/more-on-the-opting-out-phenomenon/
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“Kids have always taken tests, and they will continue to take tests, in fact the parents took many tests during their years of schooling. It’s not a big deal.”
That’s funny. When I was in middle school, we took one state per year and it was completed in one day. There was no test prep or pep rallies; we just showed up and took it. He is confusing teacher-developed tests (which actually inform instruction) with the garbage produced by Pearson et al.
The arrogance and ignorance displayed by this school leader is unfathomable. I wouldn’t be surprised if Diane reblogs this.
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He should take the tests and publicly post his scores.
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Apparently he got some pushback; the page is no longer available.
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the power of the pen, the insulting blog has been taken down.
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Today, I gave the NYS test to room full of students with disabilities. They had extended time, so 135 minutes was allotted to complete the ELA Book 2. It broke my heart to watch them earnestly trying to read and answer questions that were two,or more years above their reading levels.One of the short response questions was so vague that I had no idea as to the correct answer. Of the twenty or so students in the room, three finished before time. The others went down to the wire.
Reality is, that although they gave it everything they had, most probably these students did not pass. The material was too difficult for even an average student their age. If the common core authors had any knowledge of Piaget’s theory they would be aware of this.
Think about having the doctor order a long, painful test for you. His idea of giving you the results is to tell you you’re sick. He doesn’t tell you exactly what’s wrong, or how you can get well. He tells you that the maker of this test only allows him to tell the patient if they are very well, well, sick,or dying. A thinking person would then ask,” What is the point of this test?” I can’t think of one, can you?
( please don’t use my name, or e-mail if you post- thanks)
Sent from my iPad
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Alan Singer’s # 7 is priceless.
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Alan Singer is Priceless. A teriffic educator, mentor & activist.
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