United OPT OUT NATIONAL is organizing an Occupy the Department of Education (DOE) in Washington, D.C. March 30 – April 2, 2012.

Anthony Cody, on his blog Living in Dialog, interviewed two education activists who are part of the leadership spearheading the Occupy the DOE next week.  Anthony interviewed Ceresta Smith, a 23-year veteran teacher and National Board Certified teacher, and Timothy D. Slekar, founding member of United Opt Out and associate professor teacher education.  You can read his full interview here.

As Tim Slekar, one of the organizers of the Occupy the DOE, explains the goal of this action:

Our ultimate goal is the end of punitive high stakes testing in our public schools (The research clearly supports this goal). However, since those of us all have backgrounds in education, we plan on making sure that anybody attending any of the day’s events will leave with a deep understanding of how punitive high stakes testing is harming our public schools (children, teachers, and communities). This is not an easy task considering almost all mainstream media outlets refuse to give the real experts a forum to address the citizens of America. We hope that anyone attending leaves with a determination to “tell the story” of how this DOE and its secretary are actively participating in the dismantling of our public schools and the demonization of the teaching profession.

On the Art of Teaching Science blog we have argued  that the actions of the DOE, especially with the details of the Race to the Top, and the enticement to give some flexibility to the NCLB, are undermining the professional work of teachers and causing havoc with the lives of students and parents.  The perpetual testing machine that was put into motion by the NCLB has caused the worst high-stakes test cheating scandal in American history.  Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution released maps and data showing that DOE forced testing has created conditions that are unprecedented in our educational history: wide scale testing scores of cities across the nation.

The uncovering of this data—that it appears that bubble test answer sheets were changed—stops short at really getting at the real cause of this.

In Atlanta, for example, its primarily teachers that are being charged.  Yes, some administrators have been identified, but by and large the finger pointing is toward the teachers.  Nonsense.  In one schools (Parks Middle, Atlanta), it was the principal that coerced and bullied teachers into becoming part of a “culture of fear and intimidation.”  And why did the principals create this environment of fear in the their schools?  It came from the top, although the top administrator in Atlanta has not been charged.  And why did she create this environment of fear in such a large school district?

Raising test scores, especially in school in urban schools, is the only goal that is worthy of attention according to the Georgia Department of Education, and the U.S. Department of Education.  Testing, which can be used as a formative assessment tool to help student learn, has been turned into a curse.

It’s not the teachers who should be targeted in the nationwide testing “scandal,” but the perpetrators of the policy that is destroying the American public school system.  And who would that be?  It would be the U.S. Department of Education policy administrators who carryout the NCLB Act, The Race to the Top, and now the ESEA Flexibility Waivers, AND the department of education in each of the U.S. states.

Ceresta Smith, one of the activist educators interviewed by Anthony Cody in the run-up to the Occupy DOE in Washington, had this say when asked what we can do to get involved to support them?:

First and foremost, people must educate themselves as to what is going on in regards to the damage that is being done to public education. Then, they must speak out and engaging in activist stances by donating time and money to organizations such as Save Our Schools and Parents Across America. It is also important that they petition their legislators to draft and support public school, teacher and student friendly bills. Last, they must work hard to elect political candidates that support quality public education and work equally hard to get rid of those that don’t.

The Occupy the DOE in Washington is an important protest activity.  Pass this post on to let others know what the Occupy movement is doing next week in Washington.

Do you agree that the perpetrators of the policy that is destroying American education lies with the DOE, and state DOE’s?  What do you think?