Wis. Teacher Protests No Child Left Behind Law by Sitting Out Testing; Discipline Threatened

[babylonsister]

Wis. Teacher Protests No Child Left Behind Law by Sitting Out Testing; Discipline Threatened


MADISON, Wis. - A middle school teacher is protesting the federal No Child Left Behind law by refusing to administer a standardized test to his eighth-grade students.

David Wasserman, a middle school teacher in Madison, began his protest Tuesday. Instead of giving students the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam, he sat in the teacher’s lounge, leaving his colleagues to oversee the test.

He said he has moral objections to the federal law, President Bush’s signature education policy. The state test is used to measure whether schools are meeting annual benchmarks under the law. Schools that do not meet goals can face sanctions.

Like many teachers, Wasserman said he believes the test is a poor way to measure student progress, takes up too much class time and is used unfairly to punish schools. So after years of growing frustration, he said he decided to be a “conscientious objector” this year.

Wasserman said he originally planned to resume his protest on Thursday, the second day of testing, and through four more days of testing next week. But he said Wednesday he would likely back off and give the test after Superintendent Art Rainwater told a teacher’s union official that Wasserman could be fired if the protest continued.

“I can’t jeopardize health insurance for my family,” said Wasserman, 36. “I want to still hold by my morals, which I feel very strongly about. But I have a family to think about.”

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/11/01/4943/

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Good for him.

You know, in many states, I really don't know if it's all of them, parents can simply opt out of having their kids take standardized tests. I think there should be large drives getting people to waive their kids from these tests and nip this NCLB bullshit in the bud.

[babylonsister]

2. I had no idea parents could opt out of NCLB. That's the first time I've

heard that. But their kids would still be solely taught the answers to the questions on the test, not a general curriculum which they'd benefit from more.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. They won't be taught to the test if nobody's taking the test.

Which is why I'm saying there should be a movement.

[babylonsister]

5. Agreed. The whole program needs to be scrapped, and of the many

teachers on this board, I've never heard one who thought this program was beneficial to anyone.

[DCKit]

10. I been told by several kids that they're being screwed over in their education...

Due to the time spent memorizing answers to these tests.

They'd be just as well off spending their days playing Trivial Persuit.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I don't think that is true at all

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2183204&mesg_id=2183885

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. Where did you hear that?

That doesn't sound realistic to me. School districts are penalized for not testing kids. My district lost points last year for not testing a kid who was terminally ill and hospitalized.

I very seriously doubt any state allows parents to opt their kids out of being tested. But if you have a link to prove I am wrong, I would love to see it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. From a family member who's a teacher.

And well versed in state law.

I do suppose the school would get penalized, but I didn't say it would be easy.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1040679713632480553.html

I haven't got a link, but I got this article after a quick googling. I haven't read the whole thing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. Wow that really won't last long

Seriously. School districts are penalized for kids who aren't tested. And most can't afford to lose the money that is taken away as part of the penalty.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

18. Sure.

So they take the tests, then fail, then get penalized.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. It's a really bad law

It says 100% of our kids will be "proficient" by 2013. That is impossible.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Wow my hero of the year!!!

I wish more teachers would do this. What a wonderful thing to do.

[MadHound]

6. We need all teachers to do this

And all parents to follow suit. NCLB is simply the quick path to privatized schools, and it is already damaging an entire generation of kids.

Sadly all of the top three candidates want to "fix" or "overhaul" NCLB. What's really needed, what the teachers, parents, and administrators, you know, the ones who are most knowledgeable and have the most at stake, are crying for is a flat out repeal of NCLB. The only ones who are supporting an NCLB repeal are the lower tier candidates, Kucinich, Dodd, etc. Really quite a shame.

[LibertyLover]

7. As a parent

of a child just starting in the public educational system, I hate what NCLB has done to education. They are giving kids no time to be kids. My daughter is in kindergarten and they are pushing them to read and write already. In fact, the school system demands that kindergartners come to school already knowing their alphabet, how to read and write simple words, how to write their names and simple math. My daughter comes home with 20 minutes of homework every day, as mandated by the county board of education, based, I'm told, on the requirements of NCLB. My kidlet is already asking if she can stay home from school and come to work with me, something I hadn't thought to see for several years yet. And there is mandatory testing in kindergarten. Good grief.

[rucky]

8. If the union backs him during disciplinary action...

he could very well become the Rosa Parks of modern eduation

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. I don't see how he can avoid being punished

I am a teacher. We sign contracts. Testing kids is not a violation of his employment contract.

But I do greatly admire what he is doing. I just don't think it is going to accomplish much unless a LOT of teachers do this.

[rucky]

13. He will be punished.

The union won't save him from that, but it will bring visibility to the case. It'll be interesting to see if this takes a foothold among other teachers/districts.

[YvonneCa]

17. That's the ...

...ticket! :) And most of us are so busy trying to keep up with the punitive demands of NCLB, that we don't get organized to fight this.

I admire what he is doing, too ...but he's out there all alone in his ACTIVISM. He's certainly not alone in the sentiment.

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Even if he had company, it's a federal law

We need to throw out the law. Fighting it is a waste of time. Besides, too many teachers are too chicken to join this kind of a fight.

[flashl]

9. I support him. n/t

[WinkyDink]

19. Sorry, peeps: His refusal to DO HIS JOB on "MORAL GROUNDS" is NO different from

Fundie pharmacists and birth control, Muslim cashiers and grocery-store pork products, etc.

DO THE JOB, OR QUIT.

There isn't much "morality" in "he sat in the teacher’s lounge, leaving his colleagues to oversee the test."