Changing the Narrative. Ending the Fear. Saving our Public Schools.
September is almost over. Teaching to the test is in full swing. When talking to people in your community, it's a great time to pop the question, "What do you think about students opting out of the state test?”
Often, the "opt out" question elicits a look of fear. There is concern that schools, students or communities will be punished by opting out. Many are fearful of letting people down. Some tell me we need accountability. Parents in suburbs are afraid that opting out will cause their schools to receive less funding. Parents in low socioeconomic areas want to raise their children's test scores in the hopes of avoiding school closure and corporate takeover. Teachers are afraid they may lose their job or get punished in other ways. Many of these fears are founded on fact; many are founded on fiction.
We are ruled by fear in our current education system.
One of the first things I learned as a teacher was the importance of helping children feel safe in the classroom. It
