The struggles of the heart and doing what’s right are not mutually exclusive

I’m either incredibly brave or absolutely stupid. I’d like to believe that it’s the former of the two because if I’m being honest about things, I shudder to think that my stupidity is just a misguided attempt at doing what’s best for my kids. Plus no one likes feeling stupid.
After weeks of soul searching, praying, doing more research than a college thesis paper and more, I decided to refuse the new PARCC testing for my kids. This is probably the biggest step in advocating for my kids that I’ve ever done. In the past I’ve gone up against teachers, administrators, principals and even the school nurse but to stand up to the Ohio Department of Education and our government, it feels a little lot scary and intimidating.

I know it’s what is right but it definitely wasn’t an easy decision to come to.
I spent the last few weeks reading, researching and asking a lot of questions. I virtually eaves dropped on conversations being had in forums and groups and read everything I could find. I was already leaning towards refusing the testing but it wasn’t until a conversation with my daughter (who is probably the most affected as she’s a freshman in high school) that I knew as hard as this was, it was what needed to be done.
I was watching a YouTube video of Elyria teacher Stacie Starr who announced her resignation after a speech on the PARCC tests and what it meant to her special education students. I admire her decision to stand up for what she believes and what she believes is wrong with our education system. I could feel the pain in her heart and her passion for the belief that the tests were not only not grade appropriate but a path to over testing and under teaching. My daughter came in and watched the video with me and when Mrs. Starr began reading passages from the practice English test I asked her if that was the same practice that she took.
“Yes. But I didn’t even get past the Atomic Bomb section.”

The section was broken into 3 passages and nine pages including questions with a final essay. I write for a living and I couldn’t wrap my head around it. After that reading was another five pages, 10 questions and an essay on Charles Dickens. She shook her head, “I didn’t get through it. Charles Dickens would be something that we’d do as a class project with a series of quizzes, questions and essays. Nothing like that,” and she motioned at the video.
Up until this point, my daughter didn’t fully understand the stance I was taking or why this kind of advocating was in her best interest. She admitted that the school had only told them how bad it would be if they didn’t take the tests yet she couldn’t see how they would pass the tests since the material was stuff they hadn’t even learned about yet.
As I sent letters off to school with the kids, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t like the idea of confrontation but I knew that even if I did receive opposition, I had to do what I felt was right – and doing what’s right doesn’t always feel good in the moment.

I trust my kids’ ability to take a test and do well; providing that test is appropriate for them and has concrete benefits. I can’t confidently say that the PARCC testing is the best route to measure learning and education so while it pains me to go against the grain of the pack, it’s a journey that I’m willing to take. Hopefully it will be all of our kids who come out winning at the end of this but it’s going to require more than just a letter to a school.

Did your kids take the new PARCC tests or have you chose to refuse the tests?

I’d love to read your thoughts on what I’m sure is going to be an ongoing battle in our state!