I am the parent of a student at Miller Middle School, and what is happening during standardized state CMAS testing for students who opt out deserves attention.
Families have the right to make educational decisions for their children. When parents opt out, students should not be punished for that decision. Yet at Miller Middle School, students who do not test are placed in a room where they cannot talk, cannot use technology, and are given nothing more than a pencil and paper – nothing meaningful to do. Some students have been told this is intentional – that they are meant to feel miserable so they will choose to test next time.
That is not education. That is coercion – and it shifts the consequence of a parent’s decision onto the child.
CMAS state testing scores do affect school ratings and can influence public perception and, indirectly, funding. But those pressures do not justify this treatment.
Adding to the concern, the PTO provided snacks for all students during testing. Students who opted out were not allowed access to those snacks while sitting silently – yet another way to penalize them for their families’ choice.
Other schools manage this responsibly by allowing students to read, complete assignments or use technology productively during testing periods. There is no valid reason Miller Middle School cannot do the same.
Every student deserves a respectful, constructive learning environment – regardless of whether they participate in CMAS testing. What is happening now falls short of that basic standard.
Alison Brown
Durango
