What Should Garfield's Teachers Do?
Superintendent Banda has come out with the district's response to the Garfield teachers' ringing rejection of giving the MAP test. Basically, it's "we're going to talk about issue this spring; you must continue giving the test now."
Before the
issue was raised by our teachers at Garfield High School, the School
Board had already asked for a thorough review of our how we assess
student learning, including
MAP testing. During an
annual report to the Board on Nov. 28, it was agreed that the
District would review the effectiveness of MAP testing. We plan
to report back to the Board this spring.
Starting in
February, I will invite principals and teachers to be part of a formal
process to review the MAP test and make recommendations for assessing
student learning in Seattle
Public Schools. This is the appropriate venue to share concerns and to
have an in-depth discussion about the test. We will work together to
find the best way to move forward.
In the
meantime,
MAP remains a required element of our overall student testing
process. We expect school staff to fulfill their responsibilities and
obligations to administer this test in a timely manner. Principals,
I am asking for your leadership in ensuring the
required MAP tests are completed by Feb. 22 in accordance with current
district practice.
If they give him a chance to do what he says he will do, they look
reasonable. If they don't, they either look principled or stubborn
(take your pick).
I would trust the Superintendent. If he and the Board don't have a
thorough review (that includes teachers and principals), then the teachers can
say the review was a farce. Then, they can boycott the test.
So what do you think the teachers should do?
Comments
A friend
That said, I think the teachers keep the moral high ground by giving the test now in anticipation of a review of MAP later in the year. If they play their cards right, they can probably have some input into the review process. However, that level of compromise is unlikely to happen if the teachers stay at the barricades. Making sure that the review committee has to directly address their concerns would be a big win.
If the review doesn't happen, or does not address their concerns, then they would be much more justified in going back on "MAP strike" under a Broken Promises banner. I would expect that they would have much more public/Board support in that case as well.
- MAPLess in Seattle
Doubting Thomas
One and half years to go
Still unsure
-FedMomof2
As for Banda, he did what he had to do. He has a policy. He has to reitterate it. He did. Big deal. Will he ever have an opinion on anything? Mr. Go-With-The-Flow. That's what we hired, that's what we've got. He doesn't dissappoint. But that doesn't mean anything for the teachers who already made their bed. If they back down now... I will have no respect for them.
-parent
These students hold a lot of power right now, their teachers and the PTA have all signaled that the test should not be taken. It's up to them to opt out and take this across the finish line!
Personally, I have opted my students out, but this has no impact. As my school is not getting the media coverage GHS is currently!
Well duh. Of course they said they CHOSE to. If you opt out, you're going against policy and the school. Why would teachers want to waste time 3X per year? They DON'T! If they wanted to, they always could run any test they wanted to, and they wouldn't need to have a policy about it.
No, it isn't your once in a lifetime opportunity for advanced math. Either your kid will shine and do well in math, or not. MAP won't help you with this one. Do they even look at it at all? Not in my experience. Not at all.
-parent
A friend
I think it says more about ability to seek compromise and reach a long term solution (get rid of MAP) to administer the test by 2/22 and seek to sit on the February review committee w/ a caveat that they (we!) expect it to be resolved by spring testing.
Of course, it's only 1/14. That gives a month before the 2/22 d/l so why can't GHS teachers lobby to move the meeting up? The committee meets sooner, we get rid of MAP (I can hope !!) and there is no show-down.
-go GHS !
Is this our likely new direction and what are these assessments like?
Hopefully nothing like the worthless MAP test?
--Done with MAP but wondering what the next "best" thing will be
In fact, any parent who thinks the MAP is a waste of time should strongly consider opting their child out this week. There is no downside - the test counts for nothing. You child can still take the MSP, HPSE, or other standardized tests, even if you opt out of the MAP.
If enough parents opt out of just the MAP, that will send a strong message to Banda, and give weight to the Garfield teachers' position. There are too many tests happening right now, and the expensive, useless one should be summarily dropped.
- Stop The Pointless Testing
Not necessarily. Our school has a few grades that do the fall test while others don't.
And our teacher did use the data to make math groups.
-Thanks Anyway.
-parent
What kind of push back did you get from your kid's school when you opted them out? My daughter is a 9th grader at Franklin and they are right in the middle of it. She took reading last week and I sent a letter today...which was too late, as she just texted me a bit ago saying they pulled her out of class to take the math part. She was aware of my wished on opting her out so she tried to ask the proctor who gave her serious attitude. So I'm wondering what your situation was like.
Also - any other parents who've successfully opted their kids out - please let me know how successful that was.
CWright, Franklin Parent
"We took this action to draw attention to the deeply flawed MAP test and how it fails our students. We had hoped that we could effect a change of policy through this action. As it stands now, we are faced with a choice between the lesser of two evils: giving our students this test or risking [some number] of our colleagues losing their jobs due to not following this policy.
Because Superintendent Banda is conducting a review of the MAP test by [some date this school year], and he has committed to directly addressing the issues we have raised, we have concluded that the least bad course is to administer the test to our students. We do not consider the matter closed, and will continue to hold the District to its commitments in the review. If necessary, we will stand together again to oppose the MAP test."
They could also throw in some words about following rules and laws that you don't agree with, as part of living in a civilized society. Of course, all of this only works if they have the commitments from Banda ahead of time. On the flip side, if Banda makes promises and then doesn't follow through, it's another round of bad press for the District at the Spring or Fall MAP test time.
Then the teachers get up and say that the District made promises, failed to keep them, and now the teachers are not going to back down. The teachers will have built public and civic goodwill by trying to come to an agreement, and will be in an even stronger place in public opinion.
Anyone?
A friend
Isn't there any parent organization that could help the teachers out and support easy withdrawal of students from MAP? That would indeed be the ticket. Surely there are Garfield parent readers who could facilitate.
Reader
If your child tells you they have received pressure from any teacher or proctor or administrator, you will need to speak to that person.
If they have a problem, it should be with you and not with a child.
I opted my children out of the WASL for years and never got any pushback. They weren't really happy with my child being in the library but he read, did activities in a workbook and helped shelve books.
-parent
Maybe I'm a crazy optimist, but I'm not sure the A4E and LEV folks really have that much influence on Banda. Weren't they the ones sending around the emails about how he needed to be brought into line?
Regardless of what the Garfield teachers do, there will be a review of MAP. Wouldn't it be better in the long run if the skeptics negotiated themselves a seat at the table rather than just holding signs outside?
If you are not supportive of the MAP, please consider writing a brief letter to you child's school and opting them out, at least for the Winter test. Send in the letter soon, tomorrow preferably, as testing is starting now in many schools.
Show your support for the teachers, and give Banda a way out of this mess at the same time.
Stop Needless Testing
Bands didn't choose this test. He should order an immediate study and provide families and teachers with something more reliable, useful, and aligned.
Teacher
Is MAP tied into the Race to The Top funding that the district recently acquired?
Jonathan Knapp needs to have a very large presence. The teachers have already stood up. What would it be like for them to backdown?
More teachers need to join in. It would create an unmanageable situation; it would provide support to the Garfield teachers.
I suspect we'll see MAP discontinued and another test employed.
-parent
Oh, I got attitude from her elementary along the lines of "well, she'll sit in the office while everyone else takes the test!" Naturally I said Hell No, she will be engaged in a productive learning task, along the lines of teacher's aide or helping younger students - there was no reason in hell that she should be made to feel that she was somehow doing something WRONG! They complied.
After that, I found that you could not tell enough staff at the building what's what. If the principal knew, then the AP didn't. If the AP knew, the math teacher or librarian didn't etc etc. Know that district/board policy does NOT require that a student be subjected to MAP testing.
It definitely requires strong proactive expression of your position.
However, I have seen him since then steadily build a distance between him and the Beast. They tried to bribe him with $200K. He said thanks for the money, but I have yet to see him kiss their heinies (sp?)
These twits are all about using our kids data to push their agenda. Ryan's CCER says the district oughta hand over FRL data, well, just because if you read FERPA just right, it's ok. Burgess, City DOE and Levy/WPC think that spending our millions is okay if they can insist it can be measured (there's alot of very important things that cannot). Is that any reason to hand your kid's test results and subsequent self-judgment over to these clowns?! Not my kid.
-don't be a PITA parent
Your child must not suffer from anxiety. Congrats. The only time my child's been in the office is when she was punished exhibiting behaviors due to her disability like anxiety and emotional meltdowns. Frankly, ignorant or disproportionate punishment is a pain in my *ss, so I'll be a pain in theirs.
We voted nearly unanimously at our rep assembly tonight to support Garfield, Orca and Ballard teachers in their boycott of the test and to encourage every school to have meetings to organize on this issue.
Rally next week.
--HIMSparent
There are plenty of things the schools can offer a child when a parent opts out of any school activity; be it testing, a field trip, or whatever. Sending them to the office is punitive and a waste of their time (and resented by already busy office staff). Being a reading buddy, teacher helper to younger students, or spending time in some other learning activity is not too much to expect.
School staffer
Incidentally, I did receive a 'thanks for your letter' response from her grade level counselor. Literally, that's all it said. Might be wishful thinking but perhaps the Franklin teachers are discussing action amongst themselves? Hopeful that is the case.
To all parents who haven't sent an opt out letter yet - as suggested, send it NOW and make sure your kid has a copy on their person (if they are old enough to help)and send one to every one of their teachers, the principle, counselor, etc. It may not be too late to opt out before they start at your school. Even so - sending the letter anyway makes your wishes clear and lots of parent response might push some schools/teachers over the edge and make them feel supported enough to join the boycott.
I really love this blog. It's a great place to get information and ask questions. Thanks Charlie and Mel - you guys kind of rock!
CWright, Franklin Parent
Anyone who compromises their position because the District has promised to take some action in the future is a gullible fool. That's what the District does - they promise action and then fail to take it. The District's promises are worthless and meaningless. They have no credit. NEVER concede your position because the District has promised you something; wait until they deliver. If you don't wait, they won't deliver.