More Than a Score (50 page)

I want to express my gratitude to the Bulldogs—the parents, students, and educators at Garfield High School. My colleagues at Garfield refused to administer the MAP test and in so doing changed the world. I am in awe of your bravery, talent, and commitment to the highest level of pedagogy. All of you were crucial to this collective effort, but I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge those of you that I have worked so closely with in organizing the MAP test boycott and ongoing efforts to defend and transform public education: Mallory Clarke, Kris McBride, Kit McCormick, Jessica Griffin, Rachel Eells, Heather Robison, Adam Gish, and Jerry Neufeld-Kaiser. Many thanks as well to the Garfield Black Student Union and faculty co-advisor, Kristina Clark.

The folks at Haymarket Books are a treasure to many social movement activists, especially those involved in the fight to stop high-stakes testing. Anthony Arnove's and Julie Fain's vision, consultation, and belief in this book made it possible. I couldn't have been more fortunate than to have as my editor Dao X. Tran, an activist in the education justice movement and a contributing author—she was my teacher about what it takes to actually publish a book and provided invaluable feedback and revisions. Rachel Cohen's great talent and generosity with her time helped achieve the cover art and layout of the book, a beautiful frame to hang our stories on. Rory Fanning, Jim Plank, and Jason Farbman all believe deeply in this project and their many skills have facilitated its production. Thanks to Robin Horne and Meredith Reese for transcribing some of the interviews in this collection.

Garfield alum and
Rethinking Schools
editor Wayne Au has taught me an immeasurable amount about testing, education, and friendship. His consultations were crucial to this project. I would also like to thank the entire
Rethinking Schools
team for their support and for teaching me how to be a social justice education editor.

Without the mentorship of the great activist educators Michele Bollinger, Jeff Bale, Ben Dalbey, and Sarah Knopp, I wouldn't have had the theoretical tools or courage needed to fight for our schools. I am thankful that my greatest teachers—Paulette Thompson, Clay Steinman, Leola Johnson—knew I was more than my test scores and showed me the power of pedagogy to transform lives.

Without the support of my parents, this book would have never happened. Amy, Gerald, Dean, and Steve provided me with an upbringing that stressed the importance of education and activism. Amy and Dean were my first editors, taught me how to write, and gave me invaluable edits and feedback on this book. My mother-in-law Martha was extraordinarily generous with her support, encouragement, and care for my children, without which I wouldn't have finished this project.

Finally, the love of my family generated the energy to create this book. My sons, Miles and Satchel, have taught me so much about learning, human development, and myself—and their smiles powered the completion of this project. My wife, Sarah, my greatest collaborator, believed that I could be a success even when my test scores had me convinced I wasn't intelligent. Sarah's talents, insights, and support have made it possible for me to be an author and an activist.

About the Contributors

 

Alma Flor Ada,
Professor Emerita at the University of San Francisco, has devoted her life to advocacy for peace by promoting a pedagogy oriented to personal realization and social justice. A former Radcliffe Scholar at Harvard University and Fulbright Research Scholar, she is an internationally renowned speaker. Flor's numerous children's books of poetry, narrative, folklore, and nonfiction have received prestigious awards; among them the Christopher Medal (
The Gold Coin
), Pura Belpré Medal (
Under the Royal Palms
), Once Upon a World (
Gathering the Sun
), Parents' Choice Honor (
Dear Peter Rabbit
), NCSS and CBC Notable Book (
My Name Is María Isabel
), Marta Salotti Gold Medal (
Encaje de piedra
).

 

 

Wayne Au,
a former public high school social studies and language arts teacher, is an assistant professor in the School of Education Studies at the University of Washington, Bothell Campus. He is editor of 
Rethinking Multicultural Education: Teaching for Racial and Cultural Justice
, coeditor of 
Rethinking Our Classrooms
, volume 1
,
and writes regularly for 
Rethinking Schools
. Wayne is also author and editor of many academic articles and books, the most recent book of which is 
Critical Curriculum Studies: Curriculum, Consciousness, and the Politics of Knowing
(Routledge, 2011).

 

 

Carol Burris
has served as principal of South Side High School in the Rockville Centre School District in New York since 2000. Carol received her doctorate from Teachers College, Columbia University. In 2010, the National Association of Secondary Schools Principals recognized her as their Outstanding Educator of the Year, and in 2013 she was again recognized by NASSP as the New York State High School Principal of the Year. Carol has coauthored two books on educational equity, and her third book is
On the Same Track: How Schools can Join the 21st
Century
(Beacon Press). Articles that she has authored or coauthored have appeared in
Educational Leadership
, the
Kappan
,
American Educational Research Journal
,
Theory into Practice
,
School Administrator
, and
EdWeek
. Carol frequently blogs for the
Washington Post
.

 

 

Nancy Carlsson-Paige
is an educator, author, and activist. She is Professor Emerita at Lesley University, where she taught teachers for more than thirty years and cofounded Lesley's Center for Peaceable Schools. Nancy has written five books and numerous articles on media and technology, conflict resolution, peaceable classrooms, and education reform. She advocates for education policies and practices that promote social justice and equity for all children.

 

 

Sarah Chambers
is a special education teacher, union leader, and rabble-rouser for the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and within CORE, the Caucus of Rank and File Educators. She has taught at Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy in Chicago Public Schools for five years. As a proud member of the CTU Executive Board, bargaining team, and House of Delegates, Sarah is a firm supporter of social justice for all workers and students. 

 

 

Mallory Clarke
is a reading specialist at Garfield High in Seattle. Her roles have included high school teacher, political activist, wildlife tracker, college professor, ABE teacher, and parent. In her classroom, students have advanced as much as nine grade levels in reading in only two semesters. She is coauthor with Melody Schneider of
Dimensions of Change: An Authentic Assessment Guidebook
(Peppercorn Press).