Teacher Under Construction

If you haven’t heard already, today is a National Day of Action in support of the Garfield High School teachers in Seattle boycotting the MAP!

We held a discussion on the boycott with my school’s (Rutgers) Future Teachers Association at our kick-off meeting last night. Overwhelming support from our nation’s future educators. Yet, there were some questions to the fact that although we all whole-heartily agree that standardized tests fail to measure what we as human beings are capable of, what could be used to hold teachers accountable, and assure our students are learning what they are supposed to learn?

I think one of my favorite quotes from one of our newest members was, “We as teachers aren’t supposed to teach them for a test, we’re supposed to teach them for life.”

Can you see why I love this organization so much?

Anyhow, here is our photo in support:

And be sure to tune in THIS SUNDAY 2\10 for a LIVE WEBINAR with the Garfield High School Teachers. To learn more please visit: http://brianpjones.tumblr.com/post/42363781463/webinarwithghs

And if you haven’t seen already, this is the nationally spread e-mail about today’s National Day of Action:

Four easy steps to joining the national day of action for Garfield High School and the Seattle schools that are boycotting the MAP:

1) Action: Your organization, neighborhood, union, other other group can take any appropriate action to support Garfield High School and the other MAP test boycotters on Wednesday, Feb. 6th. Possible actions include: taking a photo of your group with a sign in support of the MAP test boycotters, holding a press conference to declare your support, organizing your school or workplace to wear red for ed(ucation), holding a speak-out or rally to talk about Garfield’s stand against the MAP and what quality assessment would be, etc.

2) Information: Get all the information about the national day of action.

3) Network: Join the Facebook event page, send it out to others, and post what action you will take.

4) RSVP: Please send an e-mail to confirm your participation–however big or small–for the national day of action to: scrapthemap@yahoo.com

Spread the word far and wide!

–MEDIA ADVISORY–
National Day of Action to Support Garfield High School and the Seattle MAP Test Boycott:
“We demand quality assessment!”
Scrap the MAP!
Wednesday, February 6th, 2013
Supporters will hold meetings, press conferences, rallies, take photos, and wear red to show support
Contact: scrapthemap@yahoo.com

For more info, visit:
http://scrapthemap.wordpress.com/

What: Educators, students, parents and supporters of public education nation-wide will take action in support of Garfield High School teachers and all teachers in Seattle Public Schools refusing to administer the MAP test.
Teachers at Garfield High School and other Seattle Public Schools have gained national attention and support for their stand against the Measure of Academic Progress, for its invalidity, waste of time and resources and its scandalous arrival to Seattle. We call on supporters of public education nationwide to participate in actions in their locale to show their support for our effort to Scrap the MAP. Supporters will hold meetings, rallies, take photos, or wear red to show support on February 6th.

As the nation-wide day of protest grows, we will send updates to the media with all the cities and organizations who are participating.

When: Wednesday, February 6th, 2013

Where: All over the nation! In Seattle action will take place at participating schools, including Garfield, Orca, Chief Sealth, Center School, and Ballard High School.

Some of the prominent organizations and individuals that have expressed their support for the Seattle MAP test boycott: National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), San Diego Education Association, UTLA board of directors, California Teacher Association, Parents Across America–Seattle, Des Moines Education Association (Iowa ), Diane Ravitch, Jonathan Kozol, Noam Chomsky, Garfield High School PTSA, Garfield HS Associated Student Body, Dr. Wayne Au, Dexter Tang, President of Seattle Student Senate, Rethinking Schools, Matt Damon & his mother Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Seattle Education Association (SEA), The SEA Substitute Association, Social Equality Educators (SEE), and many more.