In recent months, the topic of standardized testing has sparked considerable debate, especially during the testing season. In our local community, nearly 15 percent of parents chose to opt their children out of these assessments. This situation presented a range of opinions regarding the efficacy of standardized testing and how to address it, ultimately leading us to decide that our son would not participate.
Despite the ongoing discussion, there remains a lack of understanding about why so many parents are making this choice. For instance, Sarah Thompson, a dedicated sixth-grade teacher in Connecticut, recently expressed her belief that all students should be required to take these tests. With 18 years of teaching experience and a master’s degree in education, her perspective is certainly rooted in expertise. Yet, it’s surprising that she misunderstands the motivations behind the “opt-out movement.”
She assumes that the primary reason parents are opting out is due to concerns about stress or a dislike of testing. However, that’s not the case for us. I didn’t request an exemption for my son because he was anxious about the test or disliked it. He also isn’t particularly fond of homework, brushing his teeth, or cleaning his room, but those responsibilities are still part of his routine.
In her article, Thompson notes a troubling trend in education: the idea that students should be permitted to pick and choose their participation based on personal preference. “We are sending a message to our children that if they do not like something or if it seems too difficult, then they do not have to do it,” she argues. Yet, she misses an essential point.
Many of us believe that standardized testing does not accurately reflect a student’s strengths or the effectiveness of their teachers. In our state of New York, 557 principals have publicly stated that they find the tests to contain ambiguous questions, leading to disagreement among educators about the answers.
Personally, I have always performed well on tests. When I decided to attend college in the United States, I was required to take the SATs, which I hadn’t prepared for since they aren’t part of the Canadian education system. I bought a test prep book, practiced with it, and learned strategies for answering questions effectively. Ultimately, I succeeded and gained admission to my desired college.
However, the tests that my sixth-grader was scheduled to take would not contribute to his future academic opportunities in any meaningful way. This led me to opt out, as I wanted to send a message to the Department of Education about our objections. Knowing I wasn’t the only parent taking this stand made it easier to follow through; if it had been just my son, I might have reconsidered to avoid singling him out unnecessarily.
During the testing period, my son and other students who opted out were placed in the cafeteria to read quietly. Unfortunately, homework wasn’t assigned during that time, so he found himself bored. When he asked if he could go to the diner with friends, we declined. Our aim was to teach him the importance of standing by his convictions, even when it’s uncomfortable.
There are ample opportunities for him to learn about perseverance and tackling challenges throughout his life. He’s already faced many before testing season, and there will be plenty more ahead.
When he discussed the tests with us, he expressed the same concerns we had already considered. We were both surprised and proud of his awareness. We stood by him, not all the way to the diner, but firmly in the cafeteria, even if the surroundings were less than ideal.
In choosing to opt out, we wanted to instill a lesson about advocacy and standing up for one’s beliefs, rather than teaching him to avoid difficult situations. I hope this lesson remains with him as he continues to grow.
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Summary
In a community grappling with the impact of standardized testing, we opted our son out to stand up for our beliefs about its effectiveness. While some may misunderstand this choice as avoidance of challenges, we aimed to teach him the importance of advocacy and principles. With a focus on meaningful learning, we hope this lesson will resonate throughout his life.