Saying they’ve been “silenced,” New York City public school teachers removed their “gags” and spoke out in Washington Square Park on Tuesday, standing with students and parents in support of “opt-out” actions against excessive testing.
“We are not allowed to look at the tests and our right to speak with parents about our concerns is restricted by ambiguous, threatening rules from the New York State Education Department,” the objecting teachers said in a statement. “Without the ability to view, openly discuss or engage meaningfully around the tests, we are unable to support our students and families, which, as teachers, is our ethical responsibility.”
Colin Schumacher, a teacher at the East Village’s Earth School who refused to administer state tests, said, “We have an ethical responsibility to preserve public education.”
Marcus McArthur, a Special Education teacher at City-As-School High School in the West Village, said the tests unduly determine students’ future education and employment opportunities.
“High-stakes tests are nothing more than legalized income discrimination,” he charged. “We know that your parents’ income is the greatest predictor of how you will do on those tests… . The poor are denied opportunities, not because they’re not just as talented or skilled, but because the game is rigged in favor of the rich.”
