Rochester Parents Support Their Children's Refusal to Take the New Standardized Tests

As the Federal government and state governments are putting more and more importance on standardized tests, parents, educators, students and community members are fighting back against this trend.  Parents in the RCSD and surrounding towns spoke out on Friday in support of their children refusal to take the new NYS standardized tests.  These tests are based on the new common core curriculum that has been set up by NYS.  The testing is supposed to start on Tuesday April 16, 2013.  

The parents listed several issues they had with the tests.  One of the problems that the parents have spoken out about is the fact that these tests are being given to the students, despite the fact that the common core curriculum has not been fully implemented.  So students would be taking tests that are not measuring how well they are doing, but setting a baseline for future testing.

Also, since the students have not necessarily been taught the information on the tests, the parents are feeling that it is setting their children up to fail. 

Another issue is the fact that tests like these force teachers to teach to the tests. Teachers are required to have masters degrees, so they have the skills and training to educate their students.   When teachers are forced to teach to the tests, creativity and critical thinking that is vital for students to become well rounded individuals are lost. 

These tests will also be used to judge teachers and administraters performance, despite the fact that the teachers have not been instructed in the new common core curiculum.  This is an unreasonable standard.

Standardized testing also causing undue stress on students, teachers and administrators.  Teachers are already having to teach in over crowded classrooms with limited resources.  Also, both students and teachers are being evaluated on a  snapshot of their abilities.  No consideration is given to if a studen or teacher has a home situation going on, health issues, or other factors that might impact their ability to take a test. 

How many students will refuse to take the tests this coming week is unknown.  Will their refusal have an effect is unknown, but throughout the country students, educators, parents and community members are saying "no" to the continued push for more standardized testing in the schools. 

video of press conference: