When Indiana Governor Mikr Oence was asked about the sharp drop in state test scores, he responded, “Dont take it personally.”
Donna Roof of the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education sent her reply to Governor Pence in this post.
It begins:
“So, Governor Pence, you recently told a teacher not to take the ISTEP results personally.
“Well, actually, Governor…
“When I see developmentally inappropriate education curriculum, I take it personally.
“When I see students suffer from anxiety and other health issues due to pressure to pass high stakes tests, I take it personally.
“When I see students subjected to an abundance of test prep, I take it personally.
“When I see recess being cut to allow for more test prep time, I take it personally.
“When I see children fearing they’ll be held back if they don’t pass a high stakes test, I take it personally.
“When I see neighborhood schools being closed, I take it personally.
“When I see fine arts classes and programs being cut to allow more time for test prep, I take it personally.
“When I see students walking great distances on unsafe roads because there are no busses due to transportation cuts, I take it personally.
“When I see no joy in learning and teaching due to the demands of tests, tests, and more tests, I take it personally.
“When I see teachers with 40+ students in their classes, I take it personally.
“When I see teachers without sufficient resources for their classroom, I take it personally.
“When I see less funding for public schools, I take it personally.
“When I see the outrageous amount of money being wasted on high stakes testing, I take it personally….”
And it ends:
“When you see that I am doing all that I can to ensure you are not re-elected, don’t take it personally.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I don’t think he knows much about Indiana public schools. This is the article on his visit to the school, which was billed as a “question and answer session”
He can’t answer any of the questions. He doesn’t know about funding for student transportation, he doesn’t know when teachers will get resources to go with the new tests – was this maybe a campaign appearance to use public school students as props?
http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2015/11/18/pence-longfellow/75943318/
After seeing the GOP front runner’s crowd rough up a protester and witnessing more of the ugliness of this presidential campaign, today, I thought for the first time America may really be descending into fascism and dictatorship. Calls for a system to isolate, identify, and track Muslims is being taken seriously by GOP supporters as is closing mosques. Hate and rhetoric seems to be the centerpiece of the Republican platform. A focus on military and police solutions to every problem. A bizarre disassociation with rational thought and reality in the candidates. Governors like Pence, Kasich, and Christie have a seething anger towards educators as do some posters to this blog.
I am realizing every day we are increasingly living a Niemöller quote. They will eventually come for teachers.
Ed reformers interest in the new standards in public schools ends at testing.
Once the tests were in they moved right to the next project- pushing “online learning” product.
It is quite literally “all about the tests”. The tests were the goal, the point, the entire exercise. Every single bit of coverage in my state and in my state dept of education has been about either testing or test scores.
“. . . have a seething anger towards educators as do some posters to this blog.”
Count me in for having that seething anger because I see far too many (actually the vast majority of) teachers and administrators who lack the conviction of mind and soul to stand up and refuse to implement educational malpractices that harm many children.
We should all be so brave behind a keyboard. Frankly, many teachers ARE resisting, just within the bounds of what can be done. The Great Recession transferred a massive amount of power to employers and the elite that has not been seen in a century. The government capitulation to banks amplified that to the point most true working Americans have watched their voice in government (thank you SCOTUS and Citizens United) and basic rights erode.
I understand the frustration with go along to get along. But the rest of the public is in a similar boat and no longer supports education. They, like your comment suggests, fall into the divide and conquer trap set by the 1%ers and all to willing to dismiss and attack teachers. Teachers cannot strike without the gullible public turning against them. Any concern voiced by teachers is met with “you aren’t in the real world” variations on that dismissive theme. The way to win a war is first avoid a fight.
I am beginning to see more signs “Fire Pence”. A GREAT idea which may catch on. I sure hope so. I am ashamed to say that I am a Hoosier when I see the things happening in our state.
I am not ashamed to be a Hoosier; but I’m ashamed that Pence has harmed the image of our state so badly that many people think we’re a bunch of corn-gnashing peasants.