These Seattle Teachers Boycotted Standardized Testing—and Sparked a Nationwide Movement [View all]
from YES! Magazine:
These Seattle Teachers Boycotted Standardized Testingand Sparked a Nationwide Movement
Parents, students, and teachers all over the country have joined the revolt to liberate our kids from a test-obsessed education system.
by Diane Brooks
posted Mar 14, 2014
Life felt eerie for teachers at Seattles Garfield High in the days following their unanimous declaration of rebellion last winter against standardized testing. Their historic press conference, held on a Thursday, had captured the attention of national TV and print media. But by midday Monday, they still hadnt heard a word from their own school districts leadership.
Then an email from Superintendent José Banda hit their in-boxes. Compared with a starker threat issued a week later, with warnings of 10-day unpaid suspensions, this note was softly worded. But its message was clear: a teacher boycott of the districts most-hated testthe MAP, short for Measures of Academic Progresswas intolerable.
Jittery teachers had little time to digest the implications before the lunch bell sounded, accompanied by an announcement over the intercom: a Florida teacher had ordered them a stack of hot pizzas, as a gesture of solidarity.
It was a powerful moment, said history teacher Jesse Hagopian, a boycott leader. Thats when we realized this wasnt just a fight at Garfield; this was something going on across the nation. If we back down, were not just backing away from a fight for us. Its something that educators all over see as their struggle too. I think a lot of teachers steeled their resolve, that we had to continue. ......................(more)
The complete piece is at:
http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/education-uprising/pencils-down