Schools Matter: Why I Am Going to DC April 4-7:
by Jim Horn
by Jim Horn
I am coming to ODOE2 to remember and honor so many who cannot come and for so many of the forgotten victims of high stakes standardized testing.
I am coming to DC for that Louisiana 4th grader in 2002 whose heart could be heard pounding across the desk by the teacher who had to tell him he would be in the 4th grade for the third time because he didn’t pass the state test.
I am coming to DC for that other 4th grade child who scooted from his wheelchair and hid under the bed, for god’s sakes, because he was ashamed to tell his mother he had failed the test again.
I am coming to DC for unknown numbers of the kids who have hurt themselves because a test labeled them as failures.
I am coming to DC for those in prison who learned failure at an early age by high stakes testing.
I am coming to DC for the parents who attended all the “Lean on Jesus” test prep prayer meetings hoping for a miracle.
I am coming to DC for the tens of thousands of teachers and principals whose