Here’s a list of “talking points” that Tim Slekar identified to explain why he (and many other parents) are “opting their children out” of the high-stakes testing, mandated by “No Child Left Behind,” that doesn’t serve any legitimate educational purpose.

I’ve rearranged the sequence of Slekar’s points.

• Don’t wait for superman. You already have super teachers. Support them!
• Accountability is code for blame.
• NCLB is a system designed to “prove” that public schools are failures.
• Participation in a system designed to “prove” that public schools are failing is unethical and I would hope offensive to anybody’s religious values.
• My son is not a data point to be used by politicians and talking heads to “prove” that public schools are failing.
• The boycott of NCLB is in support of public schools.
• NCLB narrows the curriculum. This is bad because a rich curriculum supports learning.
• The tests have sucked the life out of teaching and learning,
• The system doesn’t measure what it says it does.
• Tests weren’t designed to evaluate teachers.
• Where are the experts?
• A College dropout like Bill Gates and a second rate basketball player like Arne Duncan in charge of education policy, really?
• The new reformers need to spend an extended amount of time in schools.
• High stakes testing seems to only be able to predict socioeconomic level.
• Control for poverty and our scores beat international scores.
• Read Valerie Strauss, Diane Ravitch, Anthony Cody, and Alfie Kohn.
• Research, evidence, research, evidence.
• Finland.
• Punitive systems do not work.
• NCLB is a failure. Achievement gap remains.
• We love our public schools. They are the bedrock of democracy in this country.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-d-slekar/how-to-boycott-nclb-in-90_b_843972.html

One Response to “Boycotting NCLB Testing”

1. gmahin says:

   April 4, 2011 at 4:38 pm

   Amen…….
   1. The learning process is part of life. Life is a test.
   2. Learning occurs despite some teachers and excels with others, therefore all teachers need a solid pedagogy foundation and then practice those skills for 12 months BEFORE getting a classroom!!! More teacher mentors!!!
   3. All learners get new skills through practice, not through testing.
   4. Teaching is personal, learning is personal and personally I am proud to have been in the classroom with all levels of students, parents, and other teachers.
   5. The goal is to provide a learning environment for ALL in the public school setting.