Suspended in Seattleh
We were punished for protecting our kids.
By Juli Griffith and Lenora Quarto
LINK

Lenora Quattro (left) and Juli Griffith with some of their students.

We protected our special education students from the Washington state test at the request of their parents. For that, our district wants to punish us.

The two of us team-teach 12 students, K-5, in a self-contained classroom for students with multiple disabilities.

In 2007, we were told to administer the Washington Alternate Assessment System to our students in grades 3-5, and we did. It took nearly three months because the test had to be given a little at a time, to each student individually. Meanwhile, our other six children were with our assistants.

Although the test was modified, it measured our students achievement against grade level standards. Because our students are cognitively at ages six months to two years, the assessment was not at their level. It had nothing to do with the goals and objectives designed for them.

Our goal might be to teach them to hold a spoon or recognize their name in print, and the test covered fractions. In fact, one student would start crying every time we got to the part on fractions.

So last year, we described the test to the parents. They said it was ridiculous. One said, “If I had known you were doing this, I would have told you to stop.” Another said, “I’m sick of tests that tell what my child can’t do. I want to see what he can do.”

We did our own research and found that parents do have a right to refuse state assessments. Since the parents had expressed their opinions to us, we thought this was all that was needed. So we didn’t give the test.

The way the district sees it, we were given a directive and didn’t follow it. The reason why held little significance to them.

The district feels we influenced the parents. Nothing could be further from the truth. As teachers, our job is to work with parents and guardians and, with informed minds, determine what is best for their child.

Administration did not contact the parents to ask whether they wanted their children tested, nor did they tell us the parents request had to be in writing — not until our first meeting about suspending us for 10 days without pay.

Once we knew they wanted the refusal requests in writing, we got them. At our second meeting with administration, we and our Seattle Education Association representative presented these letters.

We were confident that once administration saw our parents' wishes in writing, they would know why we did not administer the test. We were wrong.

With support from the Seattle Education Association and the Washington Education Association, we are appealing the district's 10-day suspension.
COMMENTS:
1 - 10 out of 24 Comments | Add your comment
02/19/10 - L80J

I have taught Sped (LD) students 7th & 8th grade 23 yrs. A lot of people said my kids couldn't, but those tests allowed me to prove to many that my Kids could test much higher. However, my kids are higher functioning than these kids. There has to be more flexibility in testing levels. One size does not fit all.

02/19/10 - Kerry

Fight on! I long for the day when administration hiring requirements include at least 5 years in the classroom full time within the last decade. No more business people or politicians in school district admin positions.

02/19/10 - Flavia

yes,It is a waste of time and a lack of respect for the sp. ed students, when teachers need to apply test with non sense to them, first, the contents, and second, the methods to evaluate. Blessings to the two teaches with common sense and heart.

02/19/10 - Janet

This is a shame. Someone needs to be a voice for these poor children. If not us, then who? We need to take this up with our congressmen and women.

02/18/10 - Cathy

Was told by my school district in no uncertain terms not to tell parents they had the right not to have their children or their teachers go through with this charade. The bottom line is no test means a "0" for the school and doesn't average in to well for the annual scores and yearly progress.

02/18/10 - ef

I do agree with the reasons for what these two teachers did, but it seems obvious to me they should have known to get written requests from parents first. However, this obviously wasn't enough. A lesson learned would be to check out the process in advance. This would not have helped the students, but would have kept these caring teachers in their classrooms- to teach!

02/18/10 - Carlos

It bothers me when I hear,"Those that can't do teach." Well guess how those people were able to do what they do. But now we should say, "those that can't teach go into administration!"

02/18/10 - R Edwards

Thank goodness for the associations and good people that work to protect teachers. We must never take them for granted.

02/18/10 - Carlos

The only thing that administrations understand are lawsuits. Maybe one day a parent will call them to the carpet with a good lawsuit that claims injustice to the right type education for their children.

02/18/10 - Debbie

A big thanks to the two teachers who did what was right, in spite of "blind hind-sight" on the part of the administrators. I, like other posters, wish more parents understood that there are too many children being left behind...