Teachers across America have a new hero: Captain APPR!
APPR man will defend our profession against evaluation by our students’ standardized test scores. In New York we call this system Annual Professional Performance Review, therefore our newest superhero has been crowned: Captain APPR!
True educators know that high-stakes exams are not a valid measure of their teaching abilities or the progress of their students. Evil villains such as Rhee, DFER, and Duncan, along with their privatization policies are hell-bent on destroying our public education system.
APPR man will go from school to school to rid our classrooms of high-stakes tests. He will strike down greed when he sees it, so watch out Pearson Education. Common Core test-prep review books will be vaporized and teachers will be free to be creative again! Data-driven instruction, a thing of the past. Pre-assessments removed from our memories.
Educators, APPR man cannot act alone. The power and money behind the privatization of our schools is mighty. The Chicago Teachers Union showed us what unity and numbers can do. Get your teachers association and fellow educators to resist the destruction of our public schools. Say no to teacher evaluation by test score.
Parents, APPR man needs your help as well. Class sizes are rising, the arts are being reduced or eliminated and programs are being slashed. Student data tracking, teacher evaluation systems and standardized testing programs are draining our school budgets. The test-prep culture is ruining our schools. Free play and recess are becoming a thing of the past. Critical thinking and creativity are replaced by drill and skill lessons. Parents: rally your PTA’s, school boards and contact your elected leaders. Boycott high-stakes testing. Your child’s future is at stake.
Most of the education policy makers who are destroying our schools send their children to elite private academies free from the very laws they support for public education. APPR Man will battle evil forces until public schools have small class sizes, rich arts programs(A favorite of APPR man), and diverse curriculum offerings.
No one knows the secret identity of Captain APPR, but he is a true hero to all educators.
Fight on Captain APPR, America’s public schools need you!
The author writes from a parent perspective at NYstopTesting.com
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