Jeanette Deutermann is a parent who lives on Long Island. She launched the nation’s biggest opt out movement in her community. It was all grassroots. Here she reflects on the dramatic spread of the movement. It started with a few determined individuals. As Margaret Mead said, that’s the way all movements begin.
Jeanette writes:
We have truly accomplished something amazing, regardless of numbers and stats. We have empowered parents and made ordinary citizens feel that they have a voice in their communities. We have turned everyday moms and dads into political and education activists who know more about their government and our education system than most politicians and education department leaders. We have taught teachers how to be unionists. And we have taught kids how to be Upstanders!!! You guys are amazing. It has been my greatest pleasure to be on this journey with each and every one of you. Thank you.
I am reflecting tonight on how far we have come. This started with a simple idea. An idea that our children should love to learn. That our schools should be a place of creativity, passion, and inspired learning. We had all felt that something just “wasn’t quite right”. We spoke to each other. We met in coffee houses. We held meeting in each other’s homes. We went to forums at our local libraries, community centers, and schools. We listened to our children’s educators who spend every day with our children. We educated ourselves and each other. We talked to our children.
More importantly we LISTENED to our children, and we finally HEARD our children. They had been asking for our help all along and we just didn’t know it. We do now, and nothing is going to stop us.
We should all be so very proud of ourselves. This has not been easy, but I promise you, your efforts will be rewarded. The entire country is watching us, seeing what a few parents, that turned into 50, that turned into 1,000, that turned into an army of moms, dads, students, community members, and teachers, can accomplish. You all amaze me. You have shown courage, perserverence, and support to me and each other, and I thank you all for believing that your child’s education is worth fighting for.
The domination of high-stakes standardized tests in our education system will end. Our work is far from over, but what we have accomplished in two short years is simply amazing!! The era of education plans made without parent, student, and educator involvement is coming to an end. We are awake. We are aware. We are Upstanders. There is nothing we cannot accomplish together. A special thank you to my team of liaisons, who are the key to the success we have had on Long Island. The legislature spoke on April 1st with their plan for our children’s education. We answer as we raise our collective voices to say “WE DO NOT CONSENT”!!!! In gratitude and solidarity….
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Diane Ravitch's blog 
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.
Hats off to Jeanette Deutermann and all the other parents!
“Opt-out Power”
The greatest human power
Is power to withhold
It makes the titans cower
A wonder to behold
“Fired Up”
What started as a flicker
Has grown into a flame
And full-on raging wildfire
Will follow just the same
The point where fire lingers
About to flicker out
Has passed beyond their fingers
And catches all about
“Won’t Back Down”
Tide is turning
Going out
Parents rising
With a shout
Organizing
Little doubt
Leaders learning
Of a rout
“Can’t be co-opted”
Co-opted it can’t be
Because it has no core
The Opt-out movement’s free
And shall be ever more
I hope that President Obama, Secretary Duncan, Hillary Clinton, Governor Cuomo and Chancellor Tisch are taking note. The old statement “Don’t Mess With Texas!” pales in comparison to “DON’T MESS WITH PARENTS!” This was NEVER about teacher unionism as it is being falsely sold in the press, media and by all those ed reform folk who think that their talking points are deflecting the REAL truth here. What we are witnessing here in NYS is the pushback that Governor Cuomo, Chancellor Tisch and former Commissioner King deserve thanks to their long record of arrogance and refusal to “listen” and to “share” thoughts with parents and public school educators at EVERY STEP of the process. Whatever happened to “shared decision making” and allowing the experts (namely professional educators) to participate in designing the best means of delivering effective instruction in the classroom? Phooey on the politicos who use the smokescreen of blaming all the ills of our nation on its schools. These folks are delusional and dangerous. While we worry and fiddle about nuclear problems on the other side of the world, “Rome is Burning” right here in America. When will Washington D.C. and the governors of our nation FINALLY come to their senses and stop this madness?
In New York what we have is a corrupt state government where each new day brings further allegations of the corporate and hedge fund investor $$$$$$ behind decisions that impact EVERY taxpayer, parent and most importantly, public school educated child in our state. It is past time that our “elected” officials needed to start listening. The Opt-Out movement is a black eye to our state BUT even more, it is an accurate knee-jerk reaction to the dictatorial and repressive agendas of a few individuals with HUGE dollars behind them and a plan that they must implement, or else. Talk about selling one’s soul …
Thank you Prof. Ravitch for bravely taking a stand against the political machine at the federal and state levels of government in this country. I am a lifelong public school educator and like many others, I know that your voice of reason and commitment to supporting our public schools has helped millions of taxpayers, parents, teachers, administrators and students to coalesce to fight those who seek to destroy the very foundation of what makes our country great!
This is a revolt to take back our schools from the oligarchs and 1%’s who have manipulated the press, media and in doing so have lied to the American public over and over again. We will keep the pressure on our politicians and will not forget those who have turned against our children and their education!
I have watched Jeanette work tirelessly for students and families over the last 3 years. It is an honor to call her my friend, an honor to have learned from her, and I am humbled daily by her commitment to children! Thank you Jeanette – I adore you!
We are all a team, my friend. Love you too, Marla!!!
Thank you Diane, or as I like to call you, Mufasa.
A big thank you from Michigan! ^O^
You rock, keep on rockin’!
Let’s keep on moving, whatever the politicians counter with, don’t cave, don’t give in. It’s OUR money not theirs.
Any “reporter” who claims this is a movement led by unions is not worth their weight in salt. How irresponsible! The unions have lagged behind and not led this charge. It was the power of the parents who worked tirelessly, questioning policy, vetting facts, educating school administrators and demanding their rights that moved this ship off the dock. We are living in a climate where our community schools are under “gag” orders not to speak about the “truths” surrounding these tests, curriculum and connections. Why is no one focusing on that? In what world is it good to have a system veiled in secrecy? We have lost control of our right to public education. The education of our children should NOT be a profitable venture. If this testing system, common core curriculum and evaluation methods were all they are cracked up to be, how come the top private schools in America don’t use them? What’s good for the top 2% should be good enough for everyone else. The divide between the have and have-not’s is growing. It is with a “heavy heart” that I will not re-elect the people who did not speak for me…NOT! ^0^
It is with tremendous respect this parent and teacher thanks you, Jeanette. Words fail to express what you have meant for us.
Thank you, Jeanette Deutermann, for showing parents a way to have a voice. I think they ARE being heard, and that’s the result of your hard work. Hats off!
thank you, you are my hero … this movement was not union led …
Jeanette writes: “we have taught kids how to be Upstanders!” what you meant to write was “we have taught kids to be bullies. We have taught them to mimic us by not respecting another opinion or point of view. We have taught them that while there may be parents who do not agree with the amount high stakes testing but have made a personal decision as a parent to have their child take the test we will mock them. We will say things like they are “drinking the Kool Aid” or we’ll call them sheeple. We will then allow our opt out kids to go to their schools in Long Island and bully…mock..make fun of…demand explanations from the kids who are taking the tests. This is going on in my district and other districts in Long Island. It is disgraceful that a student who is taking a test has to defend their parents choice to have them take that test. But we owe all the thanks to Jeanette and all the other opt out activists for teaching their kids that you don’t have to respect another point of view. I wish those opt out kids much luck in life. Whether or not they take a test will be irrelevant when they get into the real world and have to try to deal with people in a rational and respectful way. They are clearly not learning how to do that now.
I am in awe of the partnership that teachers and parents have forged on Long Island. Enormous gratitude from Venice, CA.
Jeanette writes: “we have taught kids how to be Upstanders!” what you meant to write was “we have taught kids to be bullies. We have taught them to mimic us by not respecting another opinion or point of view. We have taught them that ,while there may be parents who do not agree with the amount high stakes testing but have made a personal decision as a parent to have their child take the test, we will mock them. We will say things like they are “drinking the Kool Aid” or we’ll call them sheeple. We will then allow our opt out kids to go to their schools in Long Island and bully…mock..make fun of…demand explanations from the kids who are taking the tests. This is going on in my district and other districts in Long Island. It is disgraceful that a student who is taking a test has to defend their parents choice to have them take that test. But we owe all the thanks to Jeanette and all the other opt out activists for teaching their kids that you do not have to respect another point of view. I wish those opt out kids much luck in life. Whether or not they take a test will be irrelevant when they get into the real world and have to try to deal with people in a rational and respectful way. They are clearly not learning how to do that now.
Beautifully stated.
Definitely a BIG THANKS to Jeannette. Mil gracias.
Jeanette, you are doing great things. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I was lucky enough to be with Jeanette and a few other moms a couple of years ago. We walked into our principal’s office with our Opt-out letters and who knew it would be thousands of parents doing the same thing years later. I am so proud of what Jeanette stands for. Way to go my friend,
Where would I be without my first Martin Ave Mom friends?? Love u Jo
Wow. Just after this post appeared, reports in California have revealed that parents here are desperately lacking information about SBAC tests. KPCC (NPR affiliate with an excellent education team) http://bit.ly/1HwOlPd reported that 3 out of 4 California public school parents think we have the right amount or not enough testing–and over half have never heard of the online SBAC tests our kids have been taking for two years now.
A third of parents expect their children to score higher than on previous standardized tests and 42% predict scores will be about the same. After watching New York and other states for the last couple of years, I’d say our parents here are in for a rude awakening. Maybe THAT is what will instigate the Opt Out movement on the west coast.
Thank you for speaking up for education at a time when teachers such as myself are gagged and cannot speak frankly about what is happening in our schools. You are a Long Island treasure.
Jeanette is amazing- tireless, fearless, articulate, determined, and motivated by the care she has for ALL kids, not only her own. I feel to fortunate to have seen her in action up close many times by sharing the dais with her- we on her forum circuit call her “the closer.” I am so proud and honored to fight side by side with Jeanette, and call her my friend. Those politicians and pseudo-journalists who tell people that the opt out movement is union-led are either purposely lying or too lazy to do their homework. Parents and teachers all over NY are so grateful for Jeanette’s passion, leadership and independence.
Couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you!
I thank God for Jeanette’s poise and leadership every single day!
Thank you Jeannette ! As a special educator I am grateful for your work everyday . It gives me hope to carry on even with the gag order in place . Knowing what I know about the impact of the common core curriculum and the testing that accompanies it on my students and being told to say nothing is unbearable. Your work is so important. I have been sharing your posts and statistics with my colleagues since you started. It is great to know you and your army of parents are in it for the long term and have accomplished so much.