Cambridge Chronicle Advertisement

The following is the text of a half-page ad Massparents that has appeared in the Cambridge Chronicle along with a list of names . This is a wake-up call (lots of people  read the Chronicle), giving some basic information about the MCAS and the boycott. Your name in the ad is powerful; people will see names of others they know or know of who are committed to questioning the MCAS.

To add your name to any future ad, e-mail Susan Miller at maury_martin@hms.harvard.edu

To contribute, mail a check to Susan Miller, 16 Locke St., Cambridge 02140 
(864-2704). Make the check out to Susan Miller; it will be deposited in the 
Massparents bank account.


END MCAS MADNESS

Attention All Cambridge Parents:

Did you know that the National Academy of Sciences has stated that that one test should never be the single requirement for high school graduation? Did you know that 80% of the faculty of the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School recently signed a public statement of opposition to the MCAS? That the principal of the Wellesley Middle Schoool has come out publicly against the test? Did you know that many parents through Massachusetts are planning to boycott the test this year in protest? That many teachers and adminstrators 
in the Cambridge system are opposed to the test? Do you know why?

The MCAS violates the 1993 Education Reform Act, which called for a "variety of assessment instruments" and explicity rejected a high-stakes mega test as unfair and contrary to sound educational practice.

In the case of the MCAS, "teaching to the test" means broad coverage of topics instead of in-depth learning. Schools have already been changing their curriculums to emphasize rote learning and superficial memorization of facts in order to increase test scores. Many of our best and most exciting courses 
and projects are disappearing.

The test is ridiculously long. Even fourth graders have to sit through 14 to 17 hours of testing.

Special needs students and students whose first language is not English but who have been in this country for three years are held to the same standards as regular education and native-speaking students.Disadvantaged children fail the test disproportionately.

Students with good academic and attendence records will be denied a high-school diploma if they do not pass the test. Experts believe the drop out rates will increase. And the reasons go on.

Public action can change the focus of the state from reliance on a punitive paper-and-pencil test that restricts curriculum to an assessment system that is truly comprehensive, equitable, and effective. Good assessment 
alternatives exist. The MCAS is not the only choice.

We the undersigned are Cambridge parents and citizens concerned about the fairness of the MCAS. We call on all the parents in Cambridge to get involved in this important issue. Demonstrate your concern about all children in our city by becoming informed. Go to meetings. Ask questions. Talk to your friends and neighbors. Make up your own mind.

If you decide that this test is unfair to our children, sign the petitions that will be circulating around the city this month. Consider joining the boycott in April and May. If a loud and clear message to the state is going to 
be sent, we must send it this spring, before passing the test becomes a graduation requirement. If this test is wrong, we do not have to accept it.