Sigh. It’s that time of year. Despite clear rules on discussion pages that preclude the debate over the motives or wisdom of opt out parents, we get several people every year who have to post nonsense such as “life is hard” and “what are you teaching your children?” So here’s a brief answer to that presumptuous and asinine question.
Not that it is any of your business how I choose to raise my kids, but when we Opt Out of STAAR, we are teaching our kids to stand against injustice.
“Oh, but this isn’t a lunch counter sit in or Jim Crow,” you say. What a silly parent to see injustice in STAAR assessment. Right? Wrong. Understand exactly how STAAR works and how it victimizes.
English II EOC is a graduation requirement. 85% of ELL students fail it every time it is administered. Six years in and the TEA has no plan to remedy this. This is a system that condemns that subgroup to failure. So yes, I will stand against that injustice.
SpecED, 504, and LD kids fail STAAR at a disproportionately high rate. Then schools react by stripping them of electives and placing them in test prep classes while their peers enjoy curriculum enriching activities they are denied. So yes, I will stand against that injustice.
Neighborhood schools are closed down in overwhelming and predominantly minority and impoverished communities. This disrupts communities, families (long bus rides to new schools), and diminishes parent involvement. You NEVER see that happen in Lake Highlands, Westlake or River Oaks. So yes, I will stand against that injustice.
You apparently see no problem with that and choose not to stake a stand. So my question is, what exactly are you teaching your kids?
YES. All of the yes.