Teacher refuses to give EOC test

[sleepinthewoods]

A teacher in North Carolina refused to give his special-ed students the state-mandated End of Course Exam. He likely lost his job, but made a huge splash.

Here is his video...he can be a little snarky, but the end is very touching.

Click to view

Today I observed our EC (exceptional ed/ special ed) department giving a test to a mostly non-verbal kid who

Comments

[neolamarie]

There is no teacher union in your district?

[sleepinthewoods]

No, unfortunately no union here.

[neolamarie]

What about NCAE?

[sleepinthewoods]

They're not exactly a union, more of an "organization." I don't know anyone involved and am not aware of anything they've done. It would only be effective if a large percentage of teachers were organized... first so that we could get together to decide to do something as a group, but second that we would be protected as much as possible.

[calcuttahart]

yeah, i think there are a few national teachers unions (there is one in japan too!), but i remember thinking when i was in the US that i couldn:t afford to join the union!! ha. yay teaching and its catch 22s!! anyway, standardized testing is the devil. nclb was just up for renewal/revision in august, but i haven:t heard the latest news (like if it actually makes any sense at all now or if it:s still some stupid bureacratic shit that has nothing to do with children). i:ve kinda been distancing myself from the whole national standards thing since i am not around these days (and i can)!! but i know it is still looming there for me, waiting for my return! egad! anyway, you do have to wonder if you are helping students by getting fired and then being replaced by some drone or if your efforts actually ARE making a huge difference that inspires other educators and students(and policy makers???) everywhere!! i hope it is the latter in this case, of course!!