Steven Singer, tireless blogger, had the same experience as so many of us at the Network for Public Education conference, both last year and this year. We met people we thought of as our very close friends but had never met. They are our virtual friends, with whom we share stories, hopes, and fears. We think we know them, but we have never seen them.
And then we went to the conference, and there they are! Real people, a real resistance. It is an exhilarating experience, and I hope you are able to share it with us when we meet again next spring, 2016.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I too enjoyed that phenomenal experience meeting tweeters after tweeters seen so often in 140 digits. Especially enjoyable was the students who spoke from first hand experience about the devastation of the testing fiasco and their need for empowerment.
In addition professionals like Rita Green are taking action immediately seeking support from her chapter of the NAACP. Civil rights groups are slow to come on board against the testing fiasco as they are in support of children and the assurance that they receive the best education possible.
Although there is a convincing argument, at every level, that the test does far more damage than good and certainly is not an indicator of student success, it becomes evident that without a viable alternative civil rights groups must hang their hat on something, and the test is that “something”.
Having said that, the time has come to present a viable alternative to the testing fiasco. This alternative begins with the support of the Collins amendment to the ESEA that allows for innovative assessment away from the test.
It is no longer acceptable to simply be against the test without this viable alternative allowing for 1st class or “whole child” assessment to be the primary indicator of student achievement. Along with my colleague Dr. Angela Dye, we are working toward that end. Assessment that happens on an ongoing basis, in the class room designed to keep students moving forward on a daily basis is essential to the success of any school. The Collins amendment, although not completely solving the problems of education, is a giant leap in that direction.
The day when the science fair becomes the assessment, demonstrating the use of the scientific method rather than stating it on a test, is when education takes a turn in the right direction. That is the day when students become empowered to follow their pathway to success, parents become full partners in the process and teachers are finally allowed to take back their profession.
With the implementation of the Collins amendment, as Sherlock Holmes would say “the game is afoot.” Let the change begin!
This is the excuse for inaction: “Civil rights groups are slow to come on board against the testing fiasco as they are in support of children and the assurance that they receive the best education possible.” and other activists don’t feel this way?
Thus far nothing in both postings mentions Common Core and the curriculum, reflecting an alliance with the Union.
I look forward to it, and I hope you will find a place for me to speak about what it was like in 1998, when no one knew what was happening, as the collapse of the profession was taking place in NYC, the largest district in the US.
https://dianeravitch.net/2015/03/22/stephen-mucher-the-collapse-of-the-teaching-profession/
What was successful in N Y in reducing the budget by removing tenured teachers, became The Process ( civil rights violation) that this wonderful article explains, when it was transported to LAUSD
http://citywatchla.com/8box-left/6666-lausd-and-utla-complicity-kills-collective-bargaining-and-civil-rights-for-la-s-teachers…all this before VAM gave them another process to remove a teacher. My perspective is valuable, and my ‘story’ is fascinating, as were the administrators –the characters on my stage — at the moment I was FAMOUS — being filmed as a cohort for the National Standards research, and was the NY State Educator of Excellence.
It is a story that I will be telling in my own way, on my own blog…son!
Thank you so much for sharing my blog again, Diane. I had an incredible time at NPE last weekend. It was an honor, for example, to finally meet you in person. And meeting my BATS, my fellow Badass Teachers! I feel like have a whole new second family. Long live the resistance! Power to the people! ^O^
What is the resistance about?