Opt out!

This post is for parents of high school juniors in the state of Michigan. Of course, others are more than welcome to stick around for my plea.

On March 5, 6, and 7, high school juniors in Michigan will endure state mandated testing. Day one will be the ACT, day two will be the Work Keys (by the ACT people), and day three will be the Michigan MME. These tests determine a school's grade and rank in the state. Eventually, they will also determine if individual teachers keep their jobs. If you read my blog regularly, you know that I will likely lose my job because of these tests. You also know that I work in an impoverished area with an extraordinarily. high number of non-English speaking students.

The state spends a ton of money on these tests. If my laptop were not in the shop, I would provide links galore to show you. I'm on my phone, so this will have to do. I am asking parents of high school juniors to keep your kid home on those days. Tell the school that you do not want your child participating in the state testing. Do it especially if your child attends a primarily white district. Then tell your representation in Lansing what you've done and that you're disgusted by the waste of taxpayers money.

This is the only way to stop the madness. If teachers in primarily minority schools refuse to test, we will be viciously attacked. Called parasites and lazy. Someone will demand that we all lose our jobs. But, if you,the parents, refuse to play the game, the game will have to change.

What's the worse that can happen? The district tells your child he/she can't walk the stage on graduation day? That's not exactly like voluntarily walking over a bridge in Selma, knowing full well you were going to take a beating to the head.

I already know what my fate has in store for me. I know that my school will be taken over and that I will be fired for organizing the staff when the for-profit company tries to prevent a union. That is my Selma Bridge. I want to urge you just to keep your kids home, and take a very small stand. You won't lose your job for it.

Keep your high school juniors home on March 5, 6, and 7. It's a small act that could ripple into real change.