New York State Commissioner MaryEllen Elia plans an informational campaign for parents with a toolkit to explain why assessment is valuable and necessary.
““As you get more people involved in the process, you have more people understanding what’s going on and why you have assessments,” she said. “There are a lot of people that don’t know what the Common Core is.”
“Educators are hoping that the toolkit includes further guidelines, including what is and what is not ethical for teachers or school administrators to say publicly about the exams, an issue that has become controversial across the state.”
Elia recently told a meeting of the Gates-funded group “Educators for Excellence” that opting out was “unreasonable” and that educators who encourage it are “unethical.”
Leaders of the opt out movement reject the claim that they are uninformed.
“Some parents, like Jessica McNair [who is also a teacher], say they already are informed about Common Core and the opt-out movement should not be dismissed as a lack of information.
“I think she has a lot to learn about the parents in New York State,” McNair said. “We’re not going to back down until we see tests that are developmentally appropriate, and tests that are decoupled from the teacher evaluations.”
Is it “ethical” to require children who can’t read to take standardized tests? Is it “ethical” to require children who are English language learners to take tests they are sure to fail?
It is time to think about the meaning of ethics. Does it mean following orders, regardless of the consequences? Or do educators have a higher duty when directed to act in ways that harm the children in their care?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
It’s insulting to say that the parents are not informed… good luck with your information campaign Commissioner.
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*disinformation campaign
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Amen, Susan.
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We should simply inform people she’s gotta do what she’s gotta do to appease the feds in their inability to backpedal on what even they must know by now is bad policy.
Even Cuomo must be pounding his forehead with a rolled up NY Times.
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I can’t wait til you get your hands on one of these “toolkits”.
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Maybe the (mis)informational campaign will try to pin the “unethical” label on opt out parents who are persuading others to join in the movement.
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Isn’t it “unethical” to listen to the moneyed few and not the public which your position is supposed to serve?
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Her position is to serve the King of Ethics, Cuomo.
Yes, technically she’s a commissioner, but you know how Cuomo is with commissions, right?
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“including what is and what is not ethical for teachers or school administrators to say publicly about the exams”
The use of the word ethical is window dressing for CENSORSHIP. The oligarchs and their paid puppets think if they shut the teachers and administrators up, then the parents and children will fall into line like little obedient robots and do as they are told by their self appointed masters.
Soon the puppet masters will be handing out scripts that show teachers and admisntartors what they are allowed to say and if they get caught straying from the RheeForm script, they will end up in teacher jail or fired.
Sooner or later one of these puppet masters of the oligarchs who pulls their strings is going to upset a young teacher who is married to a former special forces combat vet—for instance a Navy Seal or member of Delta Force—who decides to deal with the problem the way he was trained—the way they got Ben Laden.
Elia is pushing the envelope too FAR in her attempt to control what teachers and administrators can say.
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Soon the puppet masters will be handing out scripts that show teachers and administrators what they are allowed to say and if they get caught straying from the RheeForm script, they will end up in teacher jail or fired.
Lloyd, those scripts appeared last year in Oregon in the form of a teachers guide on how to field questions from parents during conferences about the Common Core and Smarter Balance testing.
Parent: I am concerned that the Engage New York curriculum the district is using is inflexible and over scripted. What are your thoughts.
Teacher: Hang on, let me check the script.
You cannot make this stuff up!
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Do no harm!
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Easy to say. Impossible to stop. I think the RheeForm movement is starting to push the issue too hard, and it will backfire on them, because no matter what they say or do, a skunk still smells like a skunk.
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And a skunk smells like a skunk because that is a powerful defense against much larger predators. While the folk phrase that you used has negative connotations for a skunk, that smell of a skunk is sweet to skunks.
And to me too!
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Or perhaps this is the kind of skunk you are referring to:
Warning head banging rock!
But the lyrics are quite topical, eh!
I’m living in a funny neighbourhood
The blackies and the whities try to get along
But here comes Johnny with divide and rule
He’s always f###ing up
But what do we do we go and vote them in
We give them power to destroy our lives for good
We never give ourselves to chance to be
Always looking up
Skunk Anansie
Skunk, skunk, skunk, skunk
Skunk, skunk, skunk, skunk
Skunk Anansie
And the police we give them so much power
We’re givin’ ’em guns, we’re givin’ ’em lives to blow away
And they protect us with their winning smiles
It’s time to f##k them up
And how-do-we-do-that, how do we keep control
The first thing we must do is vote them out for good
Kick all the corrupt insatiable f#####s out
It’s time for cooking up
Skunk Anansie
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Anyone here watch football? This play is called a Hail Mary.
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And not full of grace . . .
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Wish there was a like button, since there’s not I’ll just go with the ol’ standby: TAGrO!
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When they say there is no alternative to the test, what will we say?
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That the teacher has the “real-time” information and all thistesting is just about $$$$$ for the FEW. The tests are insane! Look at them.
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And why don’t we map out a plan like http://savingstudents-caplee.blogspot.com/2013/12/accountability-with-honor-and-yes-we.html That respects the right for parents to know how innovative public school teachers can be. instead of going back to this http://savingstudents-caplee.blogspot.com/2015/08/public-education-change-or-perish.html
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Bottom line – they don’t trust teachers.
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Elia promised us a listening tour. We didn’t realize she meant that we should listen to her.
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One of these years folks will catch on to the language of those who seek to dominate and destroy public education–hopefully we will!
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I’d like to know what law Elia is referencing when she says schools will let parents know it is the law that says kids must take the tests. I have been unable to find this law. Does this law forbid parents from exercising their parental rights regarding educational decisions for their children?
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Great point! Parents should be the ultimate arbitror of what is in their children’s best interest.
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Tool Kit = Kit 4 Tools
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Yep! But what will we do to counter that? Do we say assessment isn’t important? Or do we finally wake up and offer a viable, local, alternative to the testing fiasco like : http://savingstudents-caplee.blogspot.com/2013/12/accountability-with-honor-and-yes-we.html
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My view on the proper use of testing may be found below.
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I would first of all say to stop conflating tests with assessment. Standardized tests provide no worthwhile assessment. Assessment is something that goes on every single minute of every single school day in every single classroom and has since school was invented.
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Good point, Dienne. And I mean good talking point. No proper care was taken in terms of development, implementation or support for anyone to seriously refer to these tests as assessments. We shouldn’t even refer to them as tests, but fishing expeditions or ‘datafill’ for data mining, abuse and fraud. And we should concurrently tout legitimate assessments, like what Cap Lee is talking about, meaningful assessments that actually support and guide and openly engage all involved.
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Dienne,
Totally agree, well stated!
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When I taught undergrad math, I told my students that tests were simply a means of communication between student and teacher designed to guide the instruction process, that it was a matter of some inconvenience that third parties had taken it on themselves to intrude on that two-way dialogue — but that was just the way the world was and we had to deal with it as best we could without losing sight of the main purpose of what we were about.
As things have turned out in today’s inverted world, corporations and corporate owned politicians have totally perverted the natural student-teacher relationship beyond all hope of recognition.
And it has to stop.
Or the nation will really be at risk …
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Yes, and this can be done with whole child assessment that tells parents what their child can actually do, done at the local level. Let the state oversee it all they want, just leave us alone
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And cap, that was being done in many districts. My children were fortunate to have gone through an assessment process that included the child, teacher and parents that actually focused on what my child did. I don’t know if the school still does that or if they have also been swallowed up by the standardized testing behemoth.
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Duane, formalize it in a plan and provide the viable alternative we are looking for
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Seems obvious to me that she thinks parents are stupid and gullible. There is more to it than tying the tests to teacher evals, intentionally failing kids, wanting to bust unions, blaming teachers, closing schools/opening charters and bringing in TFA. HOW ABOUT THE EXPENSE of these tests, the cost of giving the tests, the expense of the technology, and the cost to actual real learning while these tests go on for weeks and weeks, and the profits made by Pearson, et al? THAT alone makes no sense.
The rhetoric is about how there is no money, but there is enough money for these tests, and charter school admin salaries, and TFA fees on top of salaries. Parents understand THAT. Parents understand that these tests really serve no positive purpose to their kids, but rather are intrusive, costly in many ways, and invalid.
I think Ms. Elia underestimates how savvy parents are, and they aren’t about to be bullied or hoodwinked or persuaded into thinking otherwise.
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The more Elia attempts to control the situation, the angrier the parents, children and teachers will become. Remember what happened to her last job.
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State Commissioners are doubling-down on threats to teachers, parents, and students, undoubtedly with the blessing of Duncan and the millionaire/billionaires who hate to lose and fully intend to makeover American public education in their own business-minded image. Last week, CT’s Education Commissioner sent district Superintendents a “tool-kit”-like Powerpoint entitled: “Smarter Balanced Assessment: New Test. New Results” (on CSDE website powerpoint_template_for_district_or_school_results.ppt) as she embargoed the preliminary SBAC results so School Superintendents could “ensure accuracy” – whatever that might mean? I would like to know just how these district Superintendents are going about “ensuring the accuracy” of results from this unproven, developmentally inappropriate, and unfair test. Parents should show up at district explanatory meetings and express their frustration with tests intended to fail the majority of test takers, a practice that is obviously indefensible yet still promoted by district leaders who – though they know better – must silently play along.
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Ms. Elia, I’ve a feeling you’re not in Florida anymore.
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“These are the times that try our souls…but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman…”
Thomas Paine, Philosopher, author of Common Sense, Patriot, and Founding Father of the United States
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but we have lots of summer soldiers and sunshine patriots now don’t we
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Here is all the toolkit needs to say…seeing as most opt outs come from COLLEGE EDUCATED parents I don’t think the college and career ready line is gonna fly:
Here is what it says on a post-it;
We believe in an extreme behaviorist form of education because it seeks maximum control of external factors – we have no real way to tell if your child loves learning and how a teacher contributed to that.
Testing is our made up jury rigged and improvised measuring stick that we paid millions for. We need your child to take the test so we can extrinsically show we are doing some important job that we get paid lots for with lots of political connections. Even though you graduated college we believe you can grasp these tenets but still think you must be manipulated by a union and being a terrible parent because you don’t want to face up to your child’s shortcomings.
Please help us stay in power and make more money.
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Perfect! Let’s get this toolkit out there.
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This is not surprising at all.
The modis operandi, as previously used in Hillsborough County Schools (a place where only 30% of adults have college degrees) is to proceed as if parents need “education,” so that carefully created “spin” information can be spoon-fed to the community without any alternative viewpoints. This is insulting and condescending to parents who are well aware of the issues involved here.
It is MaryEllen herself who needs an education, as she is a vocal proponent of corporate education reform, has funneled millions to the private sector, is without a doctorate, and here, is merely a mouth piece for big-money Republicans who want to both dismantle public education in favor of a nation-wide charter school network, and send more public funds to more private companies who create Common Core curriculum and training materials. The agenda here is not in favor of parents, students, teachers, or tax-paying communities.
At the same time, there is an effort to eliminate the “special interests” of teacher unions who push back against (and fund candidates who do the same) unbridled attempt to seize power and dollars…and to also starve pension plans, claiming a “drain” on government budgets via modest pension payments.
Please recognize this for what it is! Continue mobilizing and fighting back.
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Ms. Elia needs to understand the difference between a disagreement and a misunderstanding.
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Yes.
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‘Informational campaign’ = Propaganda
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I believe she is the same person hat was fired from he job in FL. Doesn’t say much for the process used by NY to choose it’s commissioner. It appears we went from bad to worse.
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She is.
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Yesterday I heard a woman talk about a business she wants to start for after school middle schoolers with technology. Fine. Well and good. But she hinged her rationale for doing so as follows: “because now that we have Common Core and we are failing, more and more children are going to fail.”
Ok. So if what she states there is a common understanding (as much as many of us would cringe at her statement) it seems our choices are:
1. Educate people about who does have CCSS (this was not NY) and who has dropped it and why
2. Acknowledge that parents opting out are doing so in order to keep education from being hijacked by the narrow parameters of CCSS and its accompanying tests
3. Do like this woman and harness the situation for personal gain
I think expecting people to want CCSS and its tests (designed for failure) is like wanting everyone to worship with the Book of Common Prayer and keep a score card of our sins.
Again, the definition of ethics AND the definition of education should be in the air.
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“There are a lot of people that don’t know what the Common Core is.”
Well, this is true. And if MORE knew about what “It” is…There’d be HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS MORE REFUSALS!!!
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yes
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Elia thinks that the “Parents and educators just don’t understand the purpose of assessments” approach is the way to go? With her experience as an educator (I thought it was more considerable and meant to give her “street cred” with teachers), has she considered going on a campaign for a more holistic approach to student assessment…one that is more in line with what educators understand about learners and how to track progress? Has she considered addressing the reality that came from the mouth of NYSED to my ear: the nature of school funding in our state is what determines what opportunities and resources are available to students.
This supposed informational tour is not much different than the “listening” tours that occurred under Commissioner King…but this is even more concerning.
Elia is going on a “telling” tour.
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
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Unethical
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Public school parents should all read this so we know what we’ll be hearing going forward:
“Preparing for a Renaissance in Assessment, written by Pearson’s Chief Education Advisor, Sir Michael Barber and assessment expert, Dr Peter Hill, says that new technologies will transform assessment and testing in education.
In a Q&A session about the essay, Michael Barber says, “We are about to see big changes in the possibilities of assessment as a result of technology. Current assessment systems around the world are deeply wedded to traditional testing and exams and, some might argue, are holding us back from potential reforms. We should seize the opportunity and not cling to the past.”
It will require massive public investment in Pearson!
“Think long-term – we don’t know when the renaissance will arrive but we need to be prepared by investing in the capacity to bring it about”
Duncan will be parroting this inside of two weeks.
https://research.pearson.com/articles/preparing-for-a-renaissanceinassessment.html
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I’m telling you folks here that it is only a matter of time before there are various and serious sanctions and before some teacher who speaks out against policy while NOT on the job and while acting only as a private civilian will launch a lawsuit, maybe class action, to challenge the notion that first Amendment rights must be protected as long as you are not acting in the capacity of employee or educator. That must include meeting in public but off school grounds and outside of school employment.
This is ONLY a matter of time. Mark my words.
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Since when did mindlessly capitulating to the current whims qua mandates of the powerful become a measure of ethical behavior? It’s a gross misuse of the concept, much like the phrase professionalism is primarily used as a measure of obedience. So, to be ethical & professional is = to being silently obedient?
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So true!
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Or: “o be ethical & professional is = to being a good German in the 30s through 5/8/45”.
Harsh, yes! (And yes I know all about Godwin’s “law” and it’s bullshit!)
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For a so-called education reformer to talk about ethics is a hot one: so-called education reform and ethical behavior have proven themselves, time and time again, to be antithetical.
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Quote from a 6th grader:
“The tests aren’t for us, anyways. They are for the teacher. And if the teacher is mean to us, we don’t try on the test.”
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More coverage. Elia backpedaling.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/news03/state-officials-look-to-curb-common-core-test-opt-outs-20150826&template=mwdt
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She is not backpeddling, she is simply changing course. She will go after educators and accuse them of supporting opt out. Look for a change in 3020a language that will be sure to follow so she can start firing all those pesky teachers that are getting in her way.
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“It is time to think about the meaning of ethics. Does it mean following orders, regardless of the consequences? Or do educators have a higher duty when directed to act in ways that harm the children in their care?”
From MW online:
ETHIC(S)
1 plural but sing or plural in constr : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation
2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values —often used in plural but singular or plural in construction
b plural but sing or plural in constr : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group
c : a guiding philosophy
d : a consciousness of moral importance
3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness)
Blindly following orders forms the basis of “the banality of evil” (Arendt) to happen.
Justice should inform our ethics. Without justice there is no ethics. Justice as a virtue has two components, one of legality and one of fairness and equity. In our society legal ‘justice’ almost always trumps and often gainsays justice as fairness and equity. For an excellent discussion of the human good (virtue) that is justice read Ch. 6 “Justice” of Andre Comte-Sponville’s excellent “A Small Treatise on the Great Virtues”.
Here a few points I pulled out that relate to Diane’s questions:
“Should we therefore forgo our self-interest? Of course not. But it [self-interest] must be subordinate to justice, not the other way around. . . . To take advantage of a child’s naivete. . . in order to extract from them something [test scores, personal information] that is contrary to their interests, or intentions, without their knowledge [or consent of parents] or through coercion [state mandated testing], is always and everywhere unjust even if in some places and under certain circumstances it is not illegal. . . . Justice is superior to and more valuable than well-being or efficiency; it cannot be sacrificed to them, not even for the happiness of the greatest number [ACS paraphrasing Rawls]. To what could justice legitimately be sacrificed, since without justice there would be no legitimacy or illegitimacy? And in the name of what, since without justice even humanity, happiness and love could have no absolute value?. . . Without justice, values would be nothing more than (self) interests or motives; they would cease to be values or would become values without worth.”—Comte-Sponville [my additions]
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As a nyc parent that opt-outs of pre, mid, end of year MOSL, state tests, blackline masters, height, weight & physical tests, lunch applications, school emergency card private details, I look forward to finding more assessments/data to refuse!
If you know of any other items, please let me know.
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In order for Elia to discourage opt-outs, she can either offer a carrot or a stick, and she can do this to either teachers, children, or teachers.
At least in NYS, it is politically difficult to punish children for not taking tests (by not promoting them to the next grade, or by making them do something unpleasant).
It is impossible to punish students’ parents except through their children.
Also, she’s not going to reward teachers.
So her options are:
(a) Reward students for taking the big tests.
(b) Reward parents when their children take the big tests.
(c) Punish teachers, pretend that teachers are behind it all, and hope this will discourage parents from associating with those yucky teachers or believe anything they say.
(d) Some combination of the above.
(b) will be transparently manipulative and look dumb. (c) is nasty and standard procedure. (a) is looking good!
So (a) and (c).
That means T-shirts (“I survived the big test”), party decorations in schools, and NYS testing websites with lots of photos of smiling test-taking children. Also a marketing campaign. The NYTimes will be on board. Go team!
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It is absolutely racist to use an artificial test as a false indicator of achievement. Why? Because the test drives the curriculum and in the suburbs, where statistically more kids do well on tests, they are allowed the flexibility to do real, innovative hands on learning. They don’t need as much time studying to the test.
However, in urban areas where kids have more obstacles in front of them, stats show that the test is not the best way for them to demonstrate learning. Therefore the scope is narrowed. Arts is eliminated and less whole child, hands on learning is evident. Thus we force poor black kids to learn in the way they are least capable before they are allowed to learn in the way they are best suited.
This is not only unethical, it is immoral. So I strongly support the opt out movement.
Having said that, to not provide accountability that assures all kids are learning at their best rate is unacceptable. It is racist to not provide a viable alternative to the testing fiasco. To go back to a day where students disappeared into the streets, failed into oblivion or passed with a D- never gaining an adequate education is shameful. And that was the reality of days gone by.
We must begin the agenda of children with a movement that restores innovation in schools. By innovation I mean finding the best way for kids to learn as a top priority. The Collins Sanders amendment to ESEA is now part of that bill ( to read http://www.wholechildreform.com. ) This is a beginning that allows for innovative assessments in lieu of the test. That is the first small step toward a system and philosophy of education the respects the intelligence and abilities of all children.
In summary, yes, opt out of the test, but it is time to present a plan, a viable alternative to the testing fiasco to give parents something to opt in to.
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Cap,
I just don’t see the racist angle in this standardized testing biblical proportions of fiasco of educational malpractice. Can you please explain how race comes into play outside of your rather nebulous suburban white and urban black analysis?
TIA,
Duane
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Stop using the word “racist” so much. It’s not warranted in this discussion. You weaken the term when you throw it around.
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rephrase: In the burbs where there are fewer obstacles in the way of learning, they often do better at the test. With the ability to be book learned without a lick of common sense, they are then allowed to spend less time teaching to the test and more time on innovative learning, the arts, hands on, whole child learning.
However, in urban areas where many students have so many obstacles to compete with, child hood stress etc, they do less well on the test so they eliminate the arts, home ec, shop and hands on activities in lieu of teaching to the test.
Therefore, students have to learn in a way that is least effective before they are allowed to learn in the way that is most effective.
Call it what you want.
As for the position of many civil rights groups that there must be accountability to assure all students, especially poor and minority students, must get a fair shake. It is accurate to say that without accountability, as evidenced by the past, the students they support are often left behind be it failing into oblivion of passing with a D- without fully being prepared for the future.
What they don’t realize is the test worsens the problem.
OK NY teacher?:-)
And since I put my money where my mouth is, so to speak (actually don’t have much money) http://savingstudents-caplee.blogspot.com/2013/12/accountability-with-honor-and-yes-we.html
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My question is this: Who will be paying for the campaign? Taxpayers? If not, will there be full disclosure of who exactly is funding it? There is almost no way that this can succeed in even slowing the Opt Outs, rather, it will gain a wider audience for those parent lead groups who have been on the front lines, even if the spin is thick and fast. People know when they are being given only one side of the story. It will not be at all hard to turn this to the Opt Out movement’s advantage.
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It is incredibly ironic, is it not, that Elia’s beloved ELA module at the 12th grade level includes a close reading on Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience.” Guess she didn’t read it closely.
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My school had its opening meeting today. Our principal told us that if teachers told parents that the parents could opt their child out of state testing, those teachers would be taken to a hearing, and could lose their teaching certification in New York State. Is this true?
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Jane Doe,
I checked around and your principal is right. If you encourage children or parents to opt out, you could be charged with insubordination. I suggest you google NYSAPE and ask for guidance.
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Jane Doe,
Turns out it is not so easy to take your license away in Néw York. I asked a principal your question, and she replied:
“A district could, at great cost, bring them up on charges of insubordination. What penalty a hearing officer gives for the infraction remains to be seen. Only the State can take away your license. They do that for big deals, like cheating on the state exams or some criminal behaviors.”
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I think you are talking about two different things; possibly just answering the question of parents as opposed to encouraging them. If a parent asks a teacher if their child can opt out, and the teacher answers them honestly, I don’t believe that is a problem. But if a teacher approaches parents to encourage them to opt out their children, that would be encouraging the parents, which could get the teacher in trouble. At least that has been the policy of my district.
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I’ve posted this suggestion a few times already, but I thought I’d recommend this again – It’s a great new book on the subject of doing the right thing in the face of orders to the contrary. The book is called “Intelligent Disobedience: Doing Right When What You’re Told to Do is Wrong.” The author gives lots of great examples of what happens when you follow questionable directives without speaking out. (While the chapters specifically on education are not fully developed, the rest of the book presents important and thought-provoking points that can be applied to education.)
We all – parents, teachers, administrators, citizens – need to question and question again and then keep on questioning, the current policies and directives we all know are hurting our kids and the American Public School System.
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MaryEllen Elia. ALBANY — Education commissioner MaryEllen Elia already has begun a battle to stop the rapidly growing opt-out movement before next year’s state tests, reaching out to department attorneys and meeting with superintendents, she told POLITICO New York.
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