Letter From Retired Earth School and Neighborhood Principals

Dear Neighborhood School and Earth School Communities,

When I found out that teachers and administrators are not allowed, this year to discuss opting out of the standardized tests, I immediately contacted Dyanthe and asked what Michelle Haring and I can do to present some ideas about testing and why opting out is important. We feel this “gag order” is disrespectful of the whole educational process, and all of those who are most directly involved.

One of the pleasures of a long career and several years into retirement is opening up Facebook and finding a “friend request” from one of our NS graduates. I love the glimpses into careers, interests, children and significant others and projects that are evidenced on line. Along with viewing the photos of the lively young adults they have become, in my mind’s eye I still see the 4 or 8 year old they once were. Some have had an easier time; some have had to struggle more. Some scored well on tests; some not well at all. But ALL have found a way to be in this world. I remember worrying about some of these children - how they would make their way through school beyond our elementary schools. Yet I see that they are in college or graduates, or working at an interesting job they love. You and I know that success in life is not about test taking performance. It is about developing resiliency, self- reliance, initiative, and follow through. It is about working with others and knowing when you are doing your best. It is about developing the capacity and skills to work with others and pursue ideas creatively as well as doggedly. It is about finding something you want to do and learning how to do it. It is about continued personal growth and intellectual curiosity and growth.

These skills are not measured on a standardized elementary school test. They are looked at by good teachers in collaboration with parents. So what is the big deal about a test? We all took “the test” when we were in school and did it hurt us? I would say, yes it did and yes it does. Students are tracked and grouped by these tests even though they are not designed for this purpose and are counterproductive for this purpose. I have heard principals talk about children as “1s or 2s” instead of as full humans. The pressure on children to “perform” on a test that is designed to trick them and time them out is enormous and uncalled for. Doing well on tests has replaced doing well in learning.

The tests have an impact on curriculum. Our beloved NS and ES teachers try to reduce the impact of testing as much as possible but it still hurts curriculum. It needs to “cover” more rather than let students dig deeply into topics and investigations that are compelling and rich. Bad as the effect is now, high school curriculum is even more profoundly affected.

March 31, 2016

Some parents pay thousands of dollars a year for their children to prep for SATS. Some send their children daily after school to test prep centers starting at the age of 4. Children come to the tests with varying facility with the English language. Tests, and preparing for them becomes an issue of equity and access. Well respected universities have begun to do away with SAT requirements or enable prospective students to show capacity in other ways. Yet we cling to discredited ways of showing (in many cases superficial) learning.

Our voices do count; we do have agency. We have a new Board of Regents chancellor in the state of New York. She has already proposed changing much about the testing regime. This is due to the push back of citizens concerned about the impact testing has had on schooling. So often, our children think that they, or we, are powerless. How can we fight the powerful? The status quo?

By opting out of testing, you are demonstrating that you want serious, deep and important work for your children now and throughout their educational lives, not test prep.
You are re-establishing an effective and much healthier dialogue between parents and teachers who are the most able to teach and assess the children in their charge.
You are showing our children that we can change something, that we do have a voice that is heard.

There is a place for tests. We take tests to show we have competence to drive or hold a particular profession. These are very different. All tests are not alike. The standardized tests are expensive. Millions and millions of dollars are given every year in NYC to big businesses who provide not only tests but test prep materials. The money would be better spent on books, reading and math specialists, professional training, the arts.

Michelle and I could go on and on – but you are too busy with your kids and careers and we are too busy with travel and pottery making! Your children will do fine without high stakes testing in elementary school but they won’t do fine if they are not given the time and attention to think deeply and long. PLEASE DO YOUR CHILDREN AND ALL CHILDREN A BIG SERVICE and OPT OUT OF THE STANDARDIZED TESTING.

Our hearts are with all of you,

Judith, retired principal, the Neighborhood School

Michelle, retired principal, the Earth School