Dear Parents, There is a fight by administrators, principals, and teachers to save our children's education that has been going on around us for the past few years, many of us unaware. Standardized testing that has come to dominate our schools and severely compromises his teachers’ ability to do their jobs. They have been forced to adopt inferior test- oriented teaching practices and to take too much time away from classroom activities to accommodate endless practice tests. Where teachers were once able to inspire and motivate students to become passionate creative thinkers, they are now forced to teach scripted, (literally) mind numbing, and fast paced common core material which leaves no room for the teachers to teach to the individual student. I have spoken to teachers who are literally in tears when talking about what state tests have done to their teaching styles. They now feel like drones, force feeding the kids hours upon hours of test prep work. Why all the test prep? These tests do not have any educational value. They are simply used to evaluate teachers, principals, and schools. This one score will possibly mean the end of a career. Hence the months upon months of test prepping. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a massive state wide and national movement growing led by principals, teachers, and other educators to end these high- stakes tests. Along with countless other parents across Long Island and the state, I am opting my child out of the tests this Spring, with no consequences to his grades or standing. I urge you to do the same. I believe this is the only action that will force the state to reevaluate their use of state tests. It’s time for us to help our teachers and principals. They have been fighting for our children alone and they can only do so much. It is time join them in this fight. We as parents hold all of the power. Let's give our children back the love of learning.
for more information go to Facebook page Long Island Opt Out Info
Let's stand together and make this happen
