After a few days of the year 2013, the teachers and students at the Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington, boycotted the MAP standardizes tests. Protesting against those standardaized test were relatively common, but this boycott gained a lot of attention. Many people supported this boycott, like the local PTSA, the Seattle Student Senate and the usual suspects like Diane Ravitch and Jonathan Kozol.
A history teacher,Jesse Hagopian, of the Garfield High School talks in an interview about the problems with the standardized testing. He says that the reason why they are boycotting is, that the MAP requires things in math for th gade, which they do not teach until 11th grade which aren't even in the curriculum. He also says that the worse thing is that there's no graduation requirement.
In my opinion, the Garfield High School students and teachers and also all the other people who support the boycott of the MAP standardized tests, are right. I totally support the protistation, because I do not see a point where there should be tests, in which are for example math tasks, which some schools dont't teach or which there is not even a graduation requirement. I mean, why shoud I take the test? I could miss every single question and it would not happen anything. It doesn't show up in my college record, it is a waste of time. Some kids want to work hard for those types of tests because they do not want a feeling of
failure and because of the standardizing test, there is much pressure on them and really for no reason. It is normal to
make standardized tests for the IB, SAT or ACT. There is a reason behind it because those tests will show up on your
college record and you will need them to get into a good college. For those tests tere can not be any boycott or protest because
I think that it is obvious that you have to take those standardized tests to show your skills and knowledge. But if it is for something
that does not even show up in your college record or is required for college, then I agree totally with the Garfield Highschool and
the other people, who are protesting and boycotting.
It is very interesting how people, which don't even know each other work together, when they protest against something.
Garfield High School was given so much support from other schools that they won't give up, like other schools did.
The protest is very creative and thoughtful, not like protest in which there is violence or police. They have sentences
on their posters, which leave me with my mouth open. They have a very good message and talk exactly about the problem.
Not like protest with posters on which are written "Stop MAP" or "MAP is bad" and I think with this support and the thoughtfull
protest and boycott they will reach many things.
SEATTLE, Washington (February 6, 2013) -- National Education Association (NEA) members that teach at
Garfield High School, gathered with community activists, parents and students to hold a Measures of Academic
Progress (MAP) test boycott National Day of Action rally. Teacher refusal to administer the MAP test is motivated
by its lack of proper alignment with their school district's curriculum.
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