Trapped by Numbers

By On April 20, 2013 · Leave a Comment

This letter from a teacher makes me feel like crying! I came across it on Renée Dinnerstein’s blog:  Investigating Choice Time.

“I am 37 days away from finishing my first year of teaching first grade! My whole life I have dreamed of being a teacher. It wasn’t until college that I [...]

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The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present

By On March 14, 2013 · Leave a Comment

This is the book that parents, teachers, and anyone with a stake in public education needs to read! I had my local library purchase a copy. It is an eye-opener for all parents, but especially for those who, after spending copious amounts of time trying to help improve education in their communities by attending meetings and [...]

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Teachers engaging in “TCAP Bullying”

By On September 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Here is part of a letter a mother sent to school administrators to let them know she’s opting her daughter out of the Colorado State Assessments now known as TCAP.

“..my children are harassed by educators and administrators from both  middle and high school.  One teacher .. going so far as to belittle my [...]

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How to fight mock tests?

By On September 23, 2012 · Leave a Comment

From a teacher (emphasis is mine):

“My principal (new to the school) wants us to give the students a mock test to prepare for the [state test].  It’s supposed to show us which standards students are struggling with.  The tests are the released test questions.

The 6th grade Language Arts mock test has 114 questions [...]

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Don’t spread this GERM!

By On June 30, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Poster courtesy of Susan DeFresne of Save Our Schools: America

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Afraid to opt out of testing?

By On March 13, 2012 · 4 Comments

“Coercion has no place in a democratic society, least of all in school where it flies in the face of everything that quality education should  stand for!”

Parents,  have you or your child been threatened, punished, or coerced  by school administrators and/or teachers for opting your child out of high-stakes standardized state testing? [...]

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Looking the other Way

By On February 21, 2012 · 1 Comment

The following is an excerpt from Peggy Robertson’s blog Post  ”Looking the other Way”

“Once you open your eyes to what is true – there is no turning back.”

I work with a group of educators at United Opt Out National who are asking for one act of [...]

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Parents must read “Seeds of Tomorrow”

By On January 29, 2012 · Leave a Comment

In my many years as education advocate I have read many great, informative books by true educators with a heart for kids like Alfie Kohn, Jonathan Kozol, Wiliam Glasser, John Holt, and John Taylor Gatto, and Angela Engel now belongs in that category as well.

Her phenomenally engaging writing style makes Seeds [...]

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Schools in the Plastic Age

By On January 27, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Welcome to the PC  (Plastic and Computer) Age kindergarten where kids no longer play.

(Phot0: Denver Post,  Jan. 17, 2012; a kindergarten class at the Ricardo Flores Magon Academy K-8 charter school in Westminster.)

Standardized test scores say nothing about a student’s creative ability or potential. If curriculum focuses on prescribed skills, [...]

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Don’t all children deserve the same opportunity?

By On August 22, 2011 · 1 Comment

Sahila Changebringer is an amazingly knowledgeable and perceptive woman regarding the current education reforms.  She’s being interviewed here by TFT, The Frustrated Teacher who set up the Facebook page Miseducation Nation which she co-administers.

He says about her: “She is a single mom trying to make her world [...]

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