Growing up, one of the phrases in our house was, Don't run around like a chicken with your
head cut off. I have to say, I never liked that phrase. A little too visual
for me. But it always struck a chord with me due to the picture it created in
my head - it definitely caused me to
slow down, take a look around, and decide if I was on track - headed towards
whatever my end goal might be. I have
always been fast to move, fast to eat, fast to talk, fast to think - it's my
nature. It can be a strength and it can be a curse.
This last year has been one in which I found myself
continually running - head completely attached - but surrounded by folks who
would love to knock it off (forgive the imagery - I can't seem to get away from
it). Those who seemed to be calling the
shots this past school year did everything in their power to be certain that we
indeed ran around scattered, exhausted, confused and unlikely to make any
solid, sound decisions which could strategically push things forward - forward in
the favor of children and all that could be realized within public schools -
you know the drill, wrap around services and/or a society that cares about the
25% or more living in poverty. Democratic schools. Schools filled with arts,
music, PE, inquiry, and learning based on the needs of the learners rather than
the needs of some set of standards created by individuals who truly are looking
only at profit and the power they can hold in order to increase their profit and power.
I dabbled in a lot of things this year - legislation,
various speaking engagements, additional writing requests, union work, organizing conferences, interviews,
opt out gone wild and more. I dabbled
because as a "big picture" person, I wanted to see the big picture to
determine where my efforts should continue to be placed in the upcoming -
crucial - 2014-2015 - school year - the year when SBAC and PARCC arrive and
folks continue to run around like chickens with their heads cut off to
implement a plan that is destined to fail children and destined to profit
billionaires and those who are climbing various political and/or career ladders.
So, while I run fast, I do so with purpose. And I stop from time to time to
survey the scene. As I watched myself interact in the bigger picture - with
myself planted firmly on the field - what I discovered is this - opt out remains the way to
go. Period. It has the greatest impact. It creates the most noise and shakes
the current business model charade in our public schools - the charade that continues
to be shoved down our throats while folks obediently nod, smile and take notes. Opt out depletes them of their ever beloved data - as a result their power diminishes and their profit disappears, much like the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz - keep that image in your mind - it can be satisfying to think of as opt out numbers increase in your neck of the woods.
But back to the field - as I stood on that field - with the
legislators, the district administration, the folks from the federal and state department of
education and government, the chamber of commerce, the corporations, the community members, the media, the children, the parents and the
teachers - while keeping my eye clearly on the ball - I discovered that when the
ball was thrown to me - it was mainly from the parents. Night and day they
threw balls to me. And they wanted it to
be thrown back quickly. Just like me - they wanted to move fast. If I didn't respond quickly, they emailed again. They called again. They FB messaged me, sent texts to my phone and more. There was no time to wait and they had no patience for these games that
other people play in which people want to discuss, appease, create moratoriums,
delay, or simply sleep on it - while THE CHILDREN CONTINUE TO SUFFER.
Parents wanted the ball back fast so they could throw it at
their next target - opting out of the test. I discovered whenever anyone else
threw me the ball, they wanted the ball back - but they also wanted to keep it
for awhile to meet their own personal needs.
Not near the hurry. A lot of times they'd juggle it, give it to their
dog for a bit - they had their own motives you see.
But the parents, they threw the ball - I threw back - and
they took it and ran fast - now armed with knowledge to save their children
from abusive mandates which left their children feeling frightened, alone, stressed, feeling like
failures, often bored, angry, hating school, and more. Parents ran fast once they were awake to the harm being inflicted. They refused
the tests for their children and demanded that their children receive a whole and equitable education.
This is why I move fast. When children are being harmed -
there is no time to sit and chit chat about the pros and cons of common
core, the common core tests, or the bill that was whittled down to nothing in the last legislative
session and how we might better reach the legislators next year. When it is necessary to protect children, we
must take immediate and quick action to stop the harm. Opt out does this. This
is also why I ignore the folks who tell me "how" I should talk to
legislators, or anyone for that matter who is in charge. I will not be
"told" how to talk to anyone.
Did anyone bother to tell those
legislators in the past legislative session - you know that day - where I testified on my
day off from school - when I shared stories of children who suffered at the hands of high
stakes testing - when I spoke as the legislators came and went out the door to make deals - never asking a single question and making sure to cut me off when my time was up - did anyone bother to tell those legislators
how to talk to me? No? Oh - that's right - I am just a teacher and a female to
boot. That's right. So - I don't waste my time with them anymore.
I have to
move fast during this window of opportunity when we are making gains in our
ability to protect children and give them every opportunity to question,
explore and develop their strengths and their ability to problem solve in this
crazy world. I will handle those
legislators in the voting booth. I know that the clearest way to get the public
to respect educators is to get those legislators OUT of office and get in legislators who care about the common good, more than their political status or ego.
So, I don't play ball with just anybody. And while I move
fast - I always keep the end goal in mind. The end goal is not to
"win" - but rather, to do what is right, just and good for all
children. While winning is a brief victory to celebrate - it means little if
the "opt out" win is not followed by a clear path to achieve what all
children deserve. I have found that "opt out" is a breath of fresh
air for newcomers to activism - it is liberating, empowering and can help define who we are and what we believe. Be clear in what you believe if and when the
"opt out" victory occurs. It's a brief victory followed by hard work -
and not everyone who opts out has the same end goal in mind. Make sure the children get what they deserve.
It is my belief that "opt out" presents an
opportunity to make what has always been possible for our public schools a reality. It is more than just ending high stakes testing. It involves rethinking the role of teachers, students and the public school system as a whole. We, at
United Opt Out National, demand the following: We demand an
equitably funded, democratically based, anti-racist, desegregated public school
system for all Americans that prepares students to exercise compassionate and
critical decision making with civic virtue. I believe in this statement - my
eye is on this ball. And I know that opting out of high stakes testing is the
key to getting there.
Because I have been so busy catching balls this year, I have
had little time to blog - and writing is one of my greatest passions. As you catch that ball, remember to hand it over to fellow activists from time to time and walk away to attend to your own needs. Do the
things you love and remember - things you use to do frequently in those
days before you were awake and realized what was surrounding and destroying our world. Those things you love still exist and are
necessary to your well-being if you are to continue to stay alert, well rested,
and with a game plan as we move forward.
I am keeping it very simple for the 2014-2015 school year. I have seen the
chaos. I have been knocked down many
times. And as a result, I have been
given the opportunity to see what works and what doesn't work. I get that we all have a role to play, so
I am not knocking anyone who chooses a different route. But I'll just say
this, refuse the mandates that have been imposed on our children in the form of
opt out and watch those legislators wake up. Refuse all the tests - not just
one - all of them. Watch the politicians listen with intent this time - watch them ask questions to find out how they might meet YOUR needs. Refuse the mandates that those union leaders agreed
to as they took corporate money - and watch them sway where the power lies -
and the power lies with the masses when they opt out of these tests. The power
lies in the new leadership we will bring to the forefront as we expose those
who negotiate with children's lives. The power lies in our own ability to
recognize what is just and good and as we refuse the pitfalls that come with ego
driven - power hungry - profit mongering individuals who think of themselves first and children last - if at all. Work towards opt out through your union, your
parent group, your neighborhood - however you can get there, educate and
encourage folks to take action.
Be aware that withdrawing from common core and/or common
core tests does not mean that your state is withdrawing from lockstep standards
and/or high stakes testing. Common core
and high stakes testing can take many new names, shapes and forms. Be ready to
refuse the clones that arrive.
We don't have
a lot of time. We have limited time - but the window is ours right now. They need the data NOW to get the profit ball rolling at a steady pace. They will do anything
necessary to save the common core in order to get the data which will create the profit and allow more data to be crunched, in order to further manage and control children, teachers, and
ultimately an entire nation (I won't go into their global goals but believe
me - their plan is all encompassing).They've got a taste of what could be theirs - and they are hungry - and they'll pretend to care by agreeing to all sorts of strategies to appease us - as long as the end goal remains the same for them.
My focus this coming school year - with any individuals I
work with - will be clearly geared towards the opt out home run. But, when we
win this victory, make no mistake - and I mean this clearly directed to those
who troll my site - we know exactly where we are headed and you will not stand in our way. Opt out is just the beginning -
so get ready, sit in the stands and watch - because in this game, you are a spectator - and you are in the nosebleed section.
Power to all of you who will do what is just,
right and kind for children in 2014-2015.
Opt out and deny them their money,
their power.
Run fast to protect the children who are suffering - and be ready to advocate for what they
deserve when the power structure comes toppling down.
This is about the
children. Those of us who do not need power or ego have truth and heart on our
side. And we are fierce in our strategy and our ability to protect children.
Eye on the ball. Catch. Throw. And watch what
happens.
