Who Fought Standardized Tests?

Vito Perrone Sr. did.

Who is this man? I didn’t know who he was until I browsed the New York Times yesterday. Mr. Perrone was an activist, professor, and implementer of educational reform. He dedicated his life to leading many young teachers towards activism and opened many eyes on what policy makers really were leaving behind in “No Child Left Behind.” He inspired people like Jonathan Kozol ( one of my biggest inspirations) to write his book, Death at an Early Age. When I read this, my heart sank because not only do I want to meet Kozol, but I want to meet the person who inspired Kozol. Sadly, I no longer can.


Let’s take a moment of silence.


…wait...now that he’s gone, who’s going to fight against standardized tests?

Me?
I was waiting for you.


Waiting.

That seems like something our youth has been really good at. We’re all waiting for “those people” to stand up and say, “No, this is wrong.”
Like most famous people who pass, their songs are played for centuries to come, movies are made about them, books written, but what can I can do to continuously remember Mr. Perrone? In fact, change that previous statement: …but what can WE do to continuously remember Mr. Perrone?

Stop being silent.

Yes, I said it. Stop being silent. Stop waiting for someone else to take Mr. Perrone’s place. We are the educators. We are the ones who have to teach to the exam, show our students how to narrow down vague answers to mundane stories; we are the ones who have to teach to a system that will be forgotten every day once the bell rings at 3. What’s that quote again? If you’re silent about the things that are wrong, you’re accepting it? Something along those lines. If we only accept and complain, we might as well bow down to the system of standardized tests.

As a future teacher, I wish I knew of more people like Mr. Perrone, Jonathan Kozol, or Alfie Kohn but I don’t. Therefore I must find them in my colleagues and professors. Most importantly, I must recreate them within myself.