Opt-Out Movement is a Form of Protest

On May 4, 2014, the Glens Falls daily, The Post-Star, published the following BOO in their weekly Boos and Bravos segment concerning the Opt-Out movement:

Parents continue to opt out of Common Core testing

Boos to those parents who continue to opt out of the Common Core testing for grades three through eight. Since the results won’t count on any student’s record, there seems to be nothing gained from opting out of the test. It appears the tests are here to stay, and just because they are more difficult is not a reason to boycott them. Raising the bar on educational standards will take years, and it starts by making the curriculum more challenging. The new standards should be given a fair chance, and we don’t expect children will be traumatized by a more difficult format.

Although I normally have disdain for letter writers and the garbage they spew, I felt compelled to reply given the Post-Star's track record on glib and flippant commentary toward educational issues. Here is my published reply (fighting glibness with sarcasm?):

Opt-Out movement is a form of protest

Editor:

Thank you for taking the time to highlight your dissatisfaction with the Opt-Out movement. Thank you also for reminding your readers that you lack even a basic understanding of an important educational issue that is impacting our society.

In one short paragraph, you managed to simplify a very complex issue into a very compelling argument, “Hey, the tests are here, deal with it!” If only our civil rights leaders had accepted that simple and sound advice! 

In reality, the Opt-Out movement is a diverse collection of parents, educators, administrators and politicians, all of whom have disparate reasons for objecting to the Common Core and the resulting tests. The arguments take much more space than is allotted here, but they start with the failed premise that American education is in decline and crisis and ends with the opposition to corporate profiteering from our children, testing schemes and curriculum materials. In between is a host of concerns about curricular content, developmental appropriateness, scripted lesson planning, the loss of local control of public education and much more. The Opt-Out movement is as much a practice in nonviolent protest as it is a challenge to a corrupt public policy.

Boo to The Post-Star for not understanding this important public movement and the scope of its impact and for further failing to report on the true nature of this issue. Although my wife and I have not opted our own children out of the state tests, I do have deep concerns surrounding the cause and effect principles inherent in such a dramatic and ill-conceived policy and strongly support those who make the difficult decision to opt their own children out of the tests.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” -Aristotle

MICHAEL SHAVER

Queensbury