Fred LeBrun, a regular columnist for the Albany-Times-Union, writes that the scale of the opt out movement sends a powerful message to the President, Arne Duncan, Governor Cuomo, “and an entire ruling cabal of moronic billionaires convinced that public education can only be elevated by punitive measures and the cold imposition of numbers in a database.” He wisely recognizes that the movement was an uprising by parents, who are sick of the test-driven, data-driven policies of the past dozen years and sick of the Governor’s demand to make the consequences of the test even harsher. Parents know that this means more resources devoted to testing, less time for the arts and other subjects and activities that their children enjoy. LeBrun understands that parents are fed up with No Child Left Behind, fed up with Race to the Top, and fed up with the politicians who blindly embrace the agenda of these policies that are so harmful to genuine education.
LeBrun writes:
That’s not just an opt-out movement anymore. It’s civil disobedience, and a step away from a growing stampede. That should make elected officials squirm, and they deserve it.
But we haven’t seen the half of it yet. This coming week those same children will go back to take three days of standardized math tests — or not.
How the numbers who didn’t take the English tests will impact the numbers taking the math tests will be illuminating. It’s hard to imagine anything but a tumbling effect. Reports have surfaced that those English tests had a number of questions that were ambiguous, poorly designed and written in language too sophisticated for the age level, yet again. One parent said that the tests seem to be about creating failure, not measuring learning. She likened the exams to child abuse. Of course, since these tests are endorsed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, self-proclaimed guardian of our young minds, this couldn’t possibly be true.
Regardless how many show up for the math tests, what the parents have done so far is as strong a repudiation of national and state public policy as we have seen in a long time. These parents have given a resounding ”no” to the president, our governor, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and an entire ruling cabal of moronic billionaires convinced that public education can only be elevated by punitive measures and the cold imposition of numbers in a database.
Well, the public is not having it. Not just here in New York, but across the country. The reauthorization of No Child Left Behind in progress right now will reflect enormous national pressures to change course from a reliance on testing and the linking of teacher evaluations and student achievement to those tests. Federal funding will not be connected to meeting any federal standards, as it is now.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
And this is what Clinton must read and understand if she has any desire to reach out to us and get our active suppory
Maybe we should stop thinking that the Democratic Party supports children, education, and teachers. They certainly haven’t demonstrated it here in New York.
Nah, her folks will buy off the NEA, AFT, and all the other supposedly vaunted union “leadership” (sic). After all, those union leaders crave “to be at the table” not being intelligent enough to realize that they are “on the table” and the carving knife is held aloft about ready to do its work.
Agree strongly. All of the “advocacy” groups in NY have let people down. Unions have waited to see which way the wind was blowing and only came around after leadership came from other sources. Even more disappointing has been the mild positions taken by groups like the NY State School Boards Association and the Council of School Superintendents. Those organizations used to have political clout and used to be willing to oppose flawed state policy. Lately, they seem to value a “seat at the table” more than anything else. Thank goodness for effective parent opposition–and the new organizations that have coalesced around concerned parent groups. Advocacy groups need to reconsider their approach–we need insurgent voices not insiders. I suspect that School Boards and the Superintendents groups have been “bought off” by Gates money. Both of those organizations have expensive operations to fund that go well beyond what dues will support. Their need for cash causes them to do a lot of groveling before the corporate interests–and abandoning their position as advocates. Again, thank goodness for the voices of the emerging parental groups!
M Louie,
I think you misspoke, so if I may correct a minor error “Lately, they seem to value a “PLACE ON the table” more than anything else FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP.
On a more serious note. “Both of those organizations have expensive operations to fund that go well beyond what dues will support. Their need for cash causes them to do a lot of groveling before the corporate interests–and abandoning their position as advocates.”
Those “expensive organizations” are not only costly but “expansive and extensive”. The modus operandi of many supposedly non-profits these days. Hey, just another way to make a buck (and in some cases big bucks).
Exactly, and maybe they should get back to advocacy for the children and in the case of the “supposedly vaunted unions”, the membership and not worry so much about feathering their bed. “OH, we won’t be able to do such great works if we don’t have the softest bed” they say.
She oversaw the standards and testing programs initiated by the Billaries in AK when Bill was in charge. They brought their lame ideas to this country when Bill became president. Don’t forget this.
yes! that is why at every opportunity she must be confronted by public school advocates who will ask her the REAL inconvenient questions that she would prefer to avoid, ignore, or otherwise sweep under the rug. Clinton gets no free pass, no matter how odious her Republican opponant.
The republican candidates would do well to listen to this movement as well. I do not know who I will support yet. I will not vote for any politician who endorses common core or the testing regime.
I find comfort in the words “civil disobedience”…time for all students, and parentts, to read Thoreau on Civil Disobedience. I hope Leonie and other brave East coast opt out leaders set the example for the West Coast which is far slower in adopting civil disobedience.
And monkey…please do not forget that Hillary and the Dems are as much at fault here in their support of CC, charters, and testing. Our current Dem president has vastly damaged public education with is RttT.
“The Billionaire and the Reformer” (parody of “The Walrus and the Carpenter”, by Lewis Carroll)
The pol was pining for a charter,
pining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The regulations sleight —
Which wasn’t hard, because the gov
Was charter acolyte
The public was pining sulkily,
Because they thought the pol
Had got no business to be there
After the charter stole —
“Incredible of him,” they said,
“To work for charter dole”
The money was tight as tight could be,
The coffers were bare as bare.
You could not see a dollar, cuz
No dollar was in there:
No Race was funding overhead —
There was no Race to fund.
The Billionaire and the Reformer
Were talking under bleachers;
They wept like anything to see
Such qualities of teachers:
If these were only cleared away,’
Our schools would be like peaches!’
“If seven Chetty’s with seven VAMs
VAMmed for half a year,
Do you suppose,” the Billionaire said,
“That they could get them clear?”
“I doubt it,” said the Reformer,
And shed a bitter tear.
“O students, come and walk with us!”
The Billionaire did beseech.
“A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
A better way to teach
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each.”
The eldest student looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest student winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head —
Meaning to say he did not choose
To go with Bill, and fled
But four young students hurried up,
All eager for the fest:
Their hair was brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and best —
And this was odd, because, you know,
They’re going to a test.
Four other students followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more —
All hopping through the student waves
And scrambling to the door.
The Billionaire and the Reformer
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little students stood
And waited in a row.
“The time has come,” the Billionaire said,
“To talk of many things:
Of Common Core — and standard tests — of passing scores — and VAMs —
And why the schools are failing [Not!] —
And whether pigs have wings.”
“But wait a bit,” the students cried,
“Before we have our talk;
For some of us are out of breath,
And some of us can’t walk!”
“No hurry!” said the Reformer.
As patient as a hawk.
“A lot of bread,” the Billionaire said,
“Is what we chiefly need:
Testing and Common Core besides
Are very good indeed —
Now if you’re ready, students dear,
We can begin to weed.”
“But not on us!” the students cried,
Turning a little blue.
“After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!”
“The day is fine,” the Billionaire said.
“Do you admire the view?”
“It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!”
The Reformer said nothing but
“The cut score won’t suffice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf —
I’ve had to tell you twice!”
“It seems a shame,” the Billionaire said,
“To play them such a trick,
After we’ve brought them out so far,
And made them test so quick!”
The Reformer said nothing but
“The testing’s spread too thick!”
“I weep for you,” the Billionaire said:
“I deeply sympathize.”
With sobs and tears he sorted out
The scores of smallest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
“O students,” said the Reformer,
“You’ve had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?”
But answer came there none —
And this was scarcely odd, because
They’d flunked out every one.
Can I share this far and wide SomeDAMPoet?
With pleasure
Masterful!
We are turning this thing around…stay united and talk up the importance of Math numbers being appreciably larger this week.
“Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it.” Bill Bradley, American NBA Basketball Player and Senator
#finally! Yet Cuomo, Tisch and minions are going to “soldier on” until the stampede comes.
The GUM* requests that you do not misrepresent it’s honorable members by associating them with Cuomo, Tisch and other edudeformers.
*Gru Union of Minions
Cuomo??? But he doesn’t have anything to do with education policy. He’s said so many times.
The Democrats seem utterly oblivious to the fact that they are going to be blamed for this disaster (even though both parties had a hand in it) and that the Republicans (led by Lamar Alexander) are going to get credited with restoring some semblance of sanity to education policy.
The train wreck is coming, but for the Democrats, it’s full speed ahead right off the cliff.
Agree…
We are seeing classic Clintonian triangulation play out in Hillary’s positioning on CCC. She will stay as far “right” as she can on education issues knowing that the Klown Kar TEAPublicans are likely to stake out extreme positions giving progressives little choice (and little voice). That may become tricky for her as opposition to CC and testing aligns such disparate political forces as Rob Astorino and Zephyr Teachout. Look for Hillary to say as little as possible on education in this environment–and for her to engage in hazy messaging if not pushed for clarity.
I prefer not to look for Hillary.
Unlike Waldo, I don’t care where she is, as long as she’s not in the White House.
AMEN, SomeDAM Poet.
” …an entire ruling cabal of moronic billionaires.” Not moronic, but definitely a ruling cabal.
Certainly not moronic but avaricious, pretentious, and indifferent to those “beneath” them.
Corporate reform is in chaos. As a result of the corporate reform crisis in NY, Cuomo and Tisch blame the union and teachers. Parents are abandoning Cuomo’s corporate reforms by refusing the tests. Cuomo and Tisch have lost control as a result of the refusals. The refusals will continue to grow as parents uncover the billions in tax dollars via contracts funneled to Pearson for the purpose of destroying the neighborhood schools their own children attend.
Pearson’s control of public education is similar to Rasputin’s control of the Romanov dynasty in the years before 1917.
I’m curious if Hillary and her funders are listening?
“Corporate reform is in chaos.”
No, it’s not in “chaos”. At the moment these are little pricks into their skin, but important pricks at that. Every small cut bleeds the beast a little bit more and more. We need to redouble our efforts to get the word out.
“I’m curious if Hillary and her funders are listening?”
I’m not because I know they ain’t listening. We peons aren’t invited to the party and to paraphrase David Coleman “She and her funders don’t give a shit about what you say”.
I disagree –
It is possible that Hillary will lose the election if she continues to support the common core nonsense and related high-stakes testing.
No one will receive my vote who supports corporate reform or opens their offices to host Pearson’s lobbyists.
They do care about what we say!
LLC1923,
You must have missed Hillary’s recent comments on the Iowa Core. Give up the ghost.
NJ teacher…Shocking to read Hillary’s ignorant statements about Iowa Core. She once again is not doing her homework.
Duane…are you really a member of the NRA?
Would it make a difference?
Re-read what I wrote. Notice the usage of the past tense!
Yes, I’m a firm believer in the right to arm bears. As my friends always say in reference to me (one went so far as to get me a t-shirt saying as much from Yellowstone) “Don’t feed the bear!” (I’ve been known to dig through their coolers in search of a frosty cold one when my cooler wasn’t nearby)
This bear is armed as I do believe in my 2nd amendment right to “bear arms”. And even to “bare arms” along with the rest of this beat up ol body (That’s leftover from the days when I did have a body to show-ha ha!) I do have a few hunting weapons including shotguns, rifles, compound bow and a cross bow.
Ellen,
Hillary is NOT interested in doing her homework, and she is intelligent enough to get accurate information from the right sources – who she has complete access to – if she really wanted to.
Hill is a fraud.
Hillary is a HUGE problem.
¡Viva la revolucion!
Goodness! Coming soon to a middle and working class near you . . . . ???
Shelley and Robert…although we in California have a preponderance (the most in the nation) of Chicano/Latino students in our public schools, the reality is that many Chicano parents who were not born in the US, and many of their children who also generally were not born in the US, tend not to speak out on these issues…and do not persist with ‘revolucion’. They do not make waves, but quietly go along with the current system, where ever it leads.
Of course our state legislature has a large representation of American born Latinos who were educated mainly in public schools and public colleges, and are now as Dems, running the state. Too many of these legislators are full scale supporters of charter schools, CC, testing…and are toadies to Eli Broad, the Waltons, etc.. Naming names, start with Anthony Villaraigosa who is planning his run for Governor in 2016, who helped Broad install the disasterous John Deasy at LAUSD, and who still leads the charge for privatizing our public schools.
Yes; 55% of Latinos in a major poll in CA are in favor of the reform movement; 44% of so called white residents are not.
The previous governor was no friend to public education . . . .
Maybe the Zephyr Teachouts, Elizabeth Warrens and the Bernie Sanders of this world will give us leadership options.
Careful: Liz Warren has favored vouchers . . . .
and charters.
This issue cuts across traditional political lines–as it grows from parent concerns for their children. There are not many issues that you’ll find Rob Astorino and Zephyr Teachout siding together. That could make this a tough movement to hold together. Look for opponents (Cuomo, etc.) to initiate further efforts to create divisiveness within this movement. We can best stick together as long as parents/students remain our focus–and as long as our opponents underestimate us. We are in control–lets take it national!
“Do you want a collection of brilliant minds or a brilliant collection of minds?” R. Meredith Belbin, British researcher and management theorist