To my Sisters and Brothers:
I was so excited to hear about teachers taking a stand for quality education — and against standardized testing.
I’m a nurse. And I’m writing to you today on behalf of the New York State Nurses Association — 37,000 nurses strong!
We know a thing or two about so-called outside “experts” who try to tell us the “right” way to do our jobs. As nurses, we know that our knowledge and experience are what give us the expertise to do our job the right way. Nurses are the best experts on patient care, because we are on the front lines of delivering it every day.
The same goes for teachers. You know our kids. You know how to help them learn. And just like every patient is different, every student is different. There’s no quick fix or one-size-fits-all solution.
We are standing up against the people who are trying to destroy patient care. And you are standing up against the people who are trying to destroy education. They are the same people — the corporations and the anti-union politicians!
We are proud to stand with you, and proud to call you my sisters and brothers.
In solidarity,
Jill Furillo, RN, NYSNA Executive Director
Here’s the statement from the Seattle teachers:
National Day of Action to Support Garfield High School and the Seattle MAP Test Boycott:
“We demand quality assessment!”
Scrap the MAP!
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Supporters will hold meetings, press conferences, rallies, take photos, and wear red to show support. For more info, visit: scrapthemap.wordpress.com
What: Educators, students, parents and supporters of public education nation-wide will take action in support of Garfield High School teachers and all teachers in Seattle Public Schools refusing to administer the MAP test.
Teachers at Garfield High School and other Seattle Public Schools have gained national attention and support for their stand against the Measure of Academic Progress, for its invalidity, waste of time and resources and its scandalous arrival to Seattle. We call on supporters of public education nationwide to participate in actions in their locale to show their support for our effort to Scrap the MAP. Supporters will hold meetings, rallies, take photos, or wear red to show support on February 6.
As the nation-wide day of protest grows, we will send updates to the media with all the cities and organizations who are participating.
When: Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Where: All over the nation! In Seattle, action will take place at participating schools, including Garfield, Orca, Chief Sealth, Center School, and Ballard High School.
Some of the prominent organizations and individuals that have expressed their support for the Seattle MAP test boycott: National Education Association (NEA) President Dennis Van Roekel, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), San Diego Education Association, UTLA board of directors, California Teacher Association, Parents Across America--Seattle, Des Moines Education Association (Iowa ), Diane Ravitch, Jonathan Kozol, Noam Chomsky, Garfield High School PTSA, Garfield HS Associated Student Body, Dr. Wayne Au, Dexter Tang, President of Seattle Student Senate, Rethinking Schools, Matt Damon & his mother Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige, Seattle Education Association (SEA), The SEA Substitute Association, Social Equality Educators (SEE), and many more…
The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for hundreds of thousands of frontline nurses. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses.