Hello. My name is Steven.
HI, STEVEN!
And I’m a standardized test proctor.
(Clapping!)
I’ve been a proctor for over 10 years now. I used to be a teacher. Some days I still get to be one, but most of the time… I’m just a proctor.
(Clapping. Shouts of “YEAH!”)
I give my students standardized tests.
WOO-HOO!
And I make them do test prep.
(Cheers!)
But…
This week, the American Federation of Teachers decided – after years of opposing high-stakes testing – to embrace it.
That’s right. The second largest teachers union in the country took everything their constituent educators hate and gave it a big old sloppy wet kiss.
Merry Christmas. We’re stealing your schools.
That’s the message from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to York City School residents Friday.
Gimme’ that local control!
We were late.
At least it felt that way as my wife dragged me through elementary school hallways.
Racing past me were walls of multicolored palm print turkeys. Was it my imagination or did their googly eyes seem somewhat disapproving of my lateness and attire?
It’s my first parent-teacher night, I almost protested.
At least, it was my first as a parent and not as a teacher.
I was used to sitting on the other side of the table, notes organized in a neat little pile.
Rayvin was back.
I had been told to expect her today. She’d been on my class roster since the beginning of the year but this was the first time I had seen her in person.
Such sad eyes. Such a defeated look on such a young, beautiful face.
“Welcome back!” I said smiling and picking up her loose hand to give it a silly shake.
“I thought we might see you today!” I said ushering her to a choice seat in a front corner.
She said nothing.
| Background: | The Progressive is a monthly leftwing magazine of investigative reporting, political commentary, cultural coverage, activism, interviews, poetry, and humor. The Progressive Magazine is particularly well situated to provide such a platform. A national political magazine founded in 1909 by Fighting Bob La Follette, it has been a voice for democracy and social justice for over 100 years. From our base in Madison, Wisconsin, we have made the attack on public schools a particular focus of our reporting. |
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