9486 in the collection
One Mother's Story about Test Intimidation
It is shocking to read the pressures schools put on parents and children to prevent them from opting out of the test. Kudos to this mom for speaking up and standing tall.
by Tabitha Cardenas
My son's name is Christian Cardenas and he is 11 years old and in the 5th grade. He is very intelligent and is on the honor roll every quarter at Garnet Mesa Elementary School in Delta Colorado. We have continuously opted him out of the CSAP tests because one, we do not believe that testing my son's knowledge with a 13 hour test is going to show that the school or teacher are doing their jobs.
Secondly, we believe this test has ruined education at an early level. I remember school as a fun enjoyable place where we did science experiments, learned about the history of the world and did many activities outside of the school (field trips). Now the kids are instructed from day one of school to take a test and focus so much on this test during the school year the children do not get out of the school for trips or even interactive learning any more and this is just not fair! We are limiting the brilliant minds of our children so that they can adequately fill in the circles on this test.
We have never experienced ANY issues with opting him out of school until this year! I was called into school by the principal where they tried very hard to use guilt to get me to change my mind about the test going so far as crying and saying that my son was feeling left out of the class as if I was a poor parent that did not notice the pain of my child for my own cause. They stated that they were looking at teacher and funding sanctions primarily due to my choice to opt my son out of this test. I know that they were able to guilt the other two parents who opted their children out of the test (one for medical reasons) to allow their children to take the test. Those two children did take the test.
I did advise the principal that I would talk this over with my husband and child and get back to him. When my son got home from school he advised me that his teacher announced to the class that NO ONE was allowed to opt out of the test and ALL the students and teacher looked at Christian as if they wanted to make him feel horrible. They succeeded in making him feel that way!
After talking to Christian and my husband we chose to continue to opt Christian out of the test. The next day my son again came home from school and stated that his teacher pulled him out of class and questioned him about allowing him to take the test. Christian stated that he continued questioning and asking him how he felt and if he was feeling left out or different. Christian advised him that he needed to talk to either me or his father and that he was not going to take the test. Christian came home and stated that he didn't feel different until this year and how bad they were making him feel for not taking the test. My husband advised the principal about the concerns about bullying and he stated that his teacher was misinformed and was sorry but went no further.
The tests began and Christian went to the library to read his book and complete other work as he has done in the past because he hates to miss school. This year was different. After taking the initial set of tests the children were allowed to have an ice cream party and my son was advised he was not allowed to attend or have any or ice cream because he had not taken the test. He was forced to stay in the classroom with another teacher. This upset Christian as again he was being left out and treated poorly because of the test. When I talked to the school about this, they stated it was a CSAP activity and I had opted Christian out of the CSAP and all the activities associated with it. Just to note he has to attend the CSAP assemblies they have on a monthly basis which is a CSAP activity.
We attended the senate and house committee/bill meetings yesterday in Denver Colorado where I was able to speak 2.5 minutes about my son's story which was not adequately told in that amount of time. Both bills passed which is a small victory but a victory just the same.
I have never been so disappointed in the public school system as I am now and fear for what is next in the lives of so many children and ultimately the future of our country. Here is the letter my son wrote with this email.
March 19, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
I think CSAP is stupid because you don’t get to have anymore fun .You just prepare for that stupid test. You don’t get to do activities, like science, kickball, or get ice cream parties.
The kids who take the test get to but not me. I went to read in the library at 8:45-10:00 but it was suppose to be over at 9:45 but from 9:45-10:00 every buddy who takes the test got recess but I did not. After 2:15 recess all the kids who take the test went to the DC and got ice cream but I had to go to the class and read. My teacher before we took the test pulled me out of class and asked me if my mom is going to let me take the test, and asked me how I felt about the test. I said no my mom is not going to let me and I don’t know if I like the test I never took the test, so I don’t know. I do not know what it will be like when we take the other CSAP test but I hope it won’t be like it was.
Sincerely,
Christian R Cardenas
Thanks for taking the time to listen to my story.
People need to be aware of the way our children are being treated.
— Tabitha Cardenas
e-mail
2008-03-21
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
[1] 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> Last >>
