Boycott ISAT

CTU Focuses on Boycotting ISAT
By Jim Vail


The Chicago Teachers Union has well documented the evils of standardized testing.

CTU President Karen Lewis pointed out the history of standardized testing in this country that was tied to the eugenics movement to keep certain races in their place.

The CTU news magazine published an excellent interview with Monty Neill, the director of FairTest, who has written extensively about the problems of over testing, and how much of it is determined by social factors beyond the teachers and students control.

At this week's House of Delegates meeting, the CTU leadership made the case that the ISAT exam is no longer used in the high stakes testing craze, and therefore makes little sense to be given this year.

The CTU and some delegates are pushing a petition to sign on people to boycott the test.

However, the Chicago Board of Education and the CEO of the schools Barbara Byrd Bennett are fighting back strong to argue that the test is still important, it is state law and therefore parents should not opt their children out.  

Bennett has even told parents students may not get into selective enrollment schools or be promoted to the next grade level should they fail to take the test.

It appears as if Bennett's career is on the line to prove to her corporate masters that she won't back down to the union. 

One delegate at Wednesday's meeting also pointed out that the ISAT will still be used to rate schools, according to a level system.

Another delegate pointed out that this is the last year of the test. The boycott should be on the NWEA high stakes test used for 3-8 grades, she said.

But Lewis said it is still important to consider not taking the ISAT test because it is a waste of time and this could be the first step toward taking meaningful action against the testing craze corporate America is demanding the federal government enforce on school districts throughout the country.

"Do something with the kids instead of taking that stupid test," Lewis told the delegates.