I Stand With Assessmentgate

I was going to post something tonight debunking the myths about US schools we're hearing after the PISA data was released, but once again, our local education circus has provided another fiasco to discuss.

If I hadn't been already, after their behavior over the last couple of years, I may now be officially ashamed to work for the Montclair Board of Education.

As you may have read on Patch, Facebook, the ACLU website, or elsewhere, the Montclair BOE has issued subpoenas to find out the identity of several anonymous online critics, most prominently "Assessmentgate" (who also has a Patch blog) under the auspices of their investigation into leaked quarterly assessments and other conduct contrary to the Board's best interests (the latter sounding eerily similar to the vague language used in Cold War era witch hunts).

As the ACLU asserted in its statement, the BOE has no substantive reason to believe these critics were involved in the leak. When BOE attorney Mark Tabakin said a "wide net" would be cast in his investigation, we didn't imagine it would extend to casting suspicion of guilt on people exercising free speech in criticizing BOE policy. All this comes on the heels of reported harassment of former MHS guidance director and online critic of the BOE, Scott White.

As an open and vocal critic of recent policies in our schools (here and elsewhere, and I've never hidden from my username on Baristakids, iteachthereforeiam -- I've even answered questions about a piece I wrote with my name on it from that handle), I'm feeling a little left out of the party. Where's my subpoena?

Intentionally or not, the BOE is sending a message that dissent is unwelcome, suspect, and risky. I'd call their actions petty or farcical, but that doesn't cut it -- they're appalling. They are beneath the good people of Montclair.

I oppose the Common Core. I oppose Governor Christie and Commissioner Cerf. I oppose Arne Duncan. I oppose No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. I opposed the hiring of Dr. MacCormack. I oppose the common quarterly assessments. I have opposed just about everything coming out of 22 Valley (and Trenton) in the past year. There are many teachers like me. I stand with Assessmentgate and all citizens contributing  -- anonymously or not, critically or supportively -- to the discourse around BOE policy and recent changes in our schools. That is the Montclair in which I chose to live and teach. That is the Montclair we must fight to keep.