Wisconsin teacher refuses to give standardized exam
A Rosa Parks Moment?
“On December 1, 1955, Parks became famous for refusing to obey bus driver James Blake’s order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. This action of civil disobedience started the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which is one of the largest movements against racial segregation." [From [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks] Wikipedia].
In addition, this launched Martin Luther King, Jr., who was involved with the boycott, to prominence in the civil rights movement. She has had a lasting legacy worldwide.”
David Wasserman is the first teacher in the country to refuse to administer a federally required standardized test, walking out of the room in protest. [http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/254438]
Not wanting to put his family in danger by losing his job and health insurance, he returned to the classroom after being threatened with his job, he did nothing but sit at his desk while two other teachers oversaw the testing. From the Associated Press:
“'I was able to stick to my morals. I did not have to touch a single test booklet. I didn’t have to read a single direction,' he said. 'I sat there quietly while the students were working really hard on this really unnatural assessment that they are not used to.'
"He added: 'I did get one kid an eraser. That’s what I did for an hour and a half.'"
Is this a Rosa Parks moment? In terms of courage, absolutely. For those who believe high stakes testing harms children, absolutely. For individuals who see NCLB as an assault on Civil Rights and Democracy writ large, absolutely.
If others follow suit, absolutely.
But that is a pretty big IF.
We are not asking you, at this time, to follow suit, but we are asking you to support Mr. Wasserman’s actions by writing him a brief note thanking him for standing up for children.
Please send it to his school:
David Wasserman
Sennett Middle School,
502 Pflamm Road
Madison, WI 53716.
As the testing season begins in the coming months, we’re hoping to share more stories about acts of conscience in the face of these problems.
