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THE RESISTANCE
Calling for Mass Refusal support
By Susan Ohanian
 Local teacher union
leaders and other educators in Massachusetts have taken the bold step
of calling on teachers, through the collective action of their unions,
to refuse to give the high stakes MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment
System) in Spring 2002. I ask you to join me in giving your name in support
of their call.
The destructive features
of the MCAS are typical of high stakes tests being imposed in state after
state. MCAS tests children on materials above their grade levels and labels
children as young as eight years old as “failures.” It is gutting
school curricula, reducing education to a rigid pursuit of test scores
rather than thoughtful exploration of issues, and imposing a climate of
fear. Surely it’s past time for people to stand up to the politicians
and state authorities and say, “No, you can’t do this to our
kids!”
If Massachusetts teachers,
through collective action, refuse to give the MCAS in spring 2002, public
education will be changed forever. This act will demonstrate that teachers
can take back the schools, stand up for students, and define who they
are as professionals. First Massachusetts, then the nation.
New Democracy is working
hard at grass roots organizing in Massachusetts. The rest of us can aid
their efforts and also help strengthen and spread the growing resistance
to high stakes testing by joining their call in spirit.
If you wish your name
to be added to the Call, please go to massrefusal. org. Your affiliation
would be helpful, indicating if you’re a parent, teacher, professor.
You can join the distinguished company of those who have already signed
this call.
This site also provides
additional information about the MCAS and the background of this call.
Please share this call to action with your friends, colleagues, and e-mail
lists.
Susan Ohanian is a Senior Fellow, Vermont
Society for the Study of Education, the Vermont State Coordinator for
the National Assessment Reform Network, in association with FairTest,
and author of “What Happened to Recess and Why Are Our Children Struggling
in Kindergarten?” (2002), “Caught in the Middle: Nonstandard
Kids and a Killing Curriculum” (2001), “One Size Fits Few: The
Folly of Educational Standards” (1999).
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