Standardizing Testing Against My Religion

As an educator, I realize that the Spring is the testing season. Students and teachers will be locked in rooms together for 4 hours on end for multiple days, each one threatened to various degrees. Students are facing being held back for not succeeding on these state-mandated exams, as well as the disappointing failure associated if they don't succeed as expected. Teachers are facing having their license revoked as well as legal ramifications if something goes on "under their watch." I even had one testing coordinator threaten the staff that even if the "Texas Education Agency (TEA) investigates you and the accusations turn out to be false, it will FOREVER be on your license that you were under investigation by the state." Who will hire you then? And, just now, I was forced to sign an OATH declaring how I will uphold all of the rules, regulations and policies. Hmm...that sounds like oppression to me!

Therefore, after much thought and consideration, I have declared any standardized test against my faith...religion...morals...ethics...my being. I'm fed up with the threats, forced oppression and legal ramifications. This is not the education that's beneficial to the whole student. They're drained because before the state exams, there are benchmarks/district exams...or as I like to call it, tests before the tests so we can get our excuses together to explain our performance on the real test. This is, in fact, bullying AND oppression. For those of you who need definitions and undisputable truth, look at these clear definitions according to Merriam-Webster:





I don't need you to agree, disagree or persecute me. I say when it's enough for me. I decided years ago to leave the classroom and become a librarian for this primary reason...yet the demon follows!

Here's an unbiased and professional article written by Paul Thomas of Furman University, regarding the dangers and setbacks of No Child Left Behind