Stand Between the Children and Those Who Wish to Harm Them
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| #UOO15 |
Recently I wrote a post entitled "It's Time to Break the Rules." I intend to keep my posts over the next few months focused on the common core aligned tests that are now coming to fruition in 2015. As we reach the tipping point - breaking rules - acts of civil disobedience - are a necessity.
At our fourth annual UOO conference this past weekend in Ft. Lauderdale, Barbara Madeloni reminded us of the importance of grassroots organizing as she stated: "Look down here. That's where the vectors of power are." We must gain our strength and power from the local grassroots movements that surround us. UOO's FB page has been soaring in numbers over the last six months as the word of opt out continues to spread through the nation. As all of us spread the word of opt out we are increasing the power of the masses - we can reclaim our democracy, by beginning with the cornerstone of our democracy - our public schools. No data = no profit.
This weekend, Ira Shor reminded us of the importance of protecting our children. As an adult it is our job to stand between our children and those who wish to project harm on innocent young minds - children - who come to school to learn, to create and to express themselves in a safe environment which should allow for risk-taking.
I question how we can stand by and watch the danger of high stakes testing mandates permeate our schools, and our children - without standing up for action - without standing between our children and those who wish to project this harm upon them.
I can promise you - if anyone dared to harm either one of my boys - I would stand between that harm and my boys - and I would project the greatest amount of power I possessed physically and mentally to stop that harm from touching my children. And I would ask for help from others if need be - and I can promise you - I would win. As I say this, I must state that I feel the same way about the children within my school. The time is now for us to harness this power within our schools as we bring together parents, citizens, students and teachers to create strategy to stop the cold and hard cruelty of corporate education reform.
We must stand between the children and the harmful mandates that are being used to fail them mentally, emotionally, and physically. Colorado's suicide rate has increased 16.7 percent from 2012 to 2013 alone. We must question why countries, such as China and Japan, where high stakes testing is rampant, have such high suicide rates. We must question - what is becoming of our country? And do we care enough to stop it? Or have we been placated by the consumerism that surrounds us?
The majority of our public school children live in poverty - yet we feed them tests?
At #UOO15 in Ft. Lauderdale Krashen continued to focus on the need for nutrition, health care and books for our children living in poverty. Krashen asks - does anyone really believe that as the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, that test scores will improve?
Does anyone really believe that this achievement gap is "new" information that could only be gathered via NCLB and RTTT? We Peg with Pen: Stand Between the Children and Those Who Wish to Harm Them: