(AA1) Keep Calm and Refuse the NYS Tests

It’s not every day that a new system of testing gets put into place. Yes, I’m talking about Common Core. What exactly is Common Core? Well FOX News states, “Common Core was adopted by 45 states, although Indiana withdrew last month. The set of standards, devised by the nation's school superintendents at the behest of the National Governors Association, seeks to set a uniform standard for grades K-12, to ensure kids all over the nation reach the same minimum level of learning.” New York decided to take early action and implement the plan year early. The testing is limited to grades 3-8 as well as high school. FOX News states, “Critics say the standards end up dictating curriculum, and thus taking power away from local districts and parents.” There are many teachers and other faculty who think Common Core is a waste of resources. The new sets of textbooks that are associated with Common Core are alleged to have been politicized. A mother in Lancaster, NY actually refused to let her child partake in the testing. She taught her 4^th grader, Benjamin, a lesson in civil disobedience. Heidi Indelecato “respectfully refused to participate in the test.” FOX News said, “So while other kids sat poised with their No. 2 pencils above Scantron sheets, Benjamin studied with his mother, who documented the occasion with a picture of the pair wearing T-shirts that read: "Keep calm and and refuse the NYS tests.”” Indelecato said, “I feel like I’m teaching him leadership and strong self-confidence, qualities that I feel are good for the development of a young child,” she said. “I’m trying to instill in him that sometimes it’s important to be polite but disobedient. Sometimes it’s needed because the leaders are not always going to be right.” Parents are given the option to opt-out their children from taking the 90 minutes tests. If that’s the case, the 90 minutes the kids have are not allowed to be spent doing homework or reading. Does this mean that the district is indirectly trying to persuade the parents into letting their children take the tests. FOX News stated, “On Monday, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, who is running for governor of New York, released an online video in which he had harsh words for the Common Core standards and announced that he would not have his children participate in the round of testin” Astorino told FOX News, "It's one size fits all and that's not how children learn. Because we are opposed to the Common Core does not mean we are opposed to bettering standards."  Astorino said that he is not opposed to raising the standards for public schools. He is suggesting that the rules be set at a local level.