Standardized Testing: The Value of Civil Disobedience

A story from 20 years ago: When my child was on the brink of taking the MCAS test at Harrington School, the Principal, Mr. Crump, called me in for a meeting.

I felt a wave of nerves wash over me, leaving me uncertain about the reasons for his request. After a brief conversation, he suggested that I consider hiring a tutor to enhance my child's performance and that of the entire class, assuming, of course, that I was in a financial position to do so.

I expressed my strong disagreement with the principles of standardized testing, a stance that was deeply rooted in my own experiences in Special Education and my past interactions with Rep. Mark Roosevelt, who is an advocate for MCAS.

As a parent, wanting to support my child's growth and education, I introduced her to the works of Thoreau and the concept of Civil Disobedience. Together, we took a thoughtful visit to Walden Pond to engage in meaningful discussions about beliefs and values. I encouraged her to consider not taking the test as a form of protest against a system I disagreed with, yet she ultimately chose to take it later on instead.

In the end, she performed well on the MCAS.

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