In Memoriam -- Steve Orel

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

Gloria Pipkin, coordinator of the Florida Coalition for Assessment 
Reform, posted the following message on the FCAR listserv on Saturday 
afternoon.

Steve Orel had been a regular poster on these national lists and an 
exemplary leader of assessment reform efforts in Alabama.

His commitment and talents will most definitely be missed.

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

- - - -

Steve Orel, a student advocate and anti-high-stakes testing activist
from Birmingham, AL, died at his home early today, after a two-year

battle with cancer. Steve was fired from his job as an adult education
instructor in June of 2000, after he blew the whistle on Birmingham City
Schools for pushing out--involuntarily withdrawing--522 high school
students a few weeks before state tests were given, when the school
system was under threat of take-over by the state due to low test
scores.

In partnership with a Catholic lay order, the Salesians, Steve opened
the World of Opportunity, "a civil rights, social justice, educational,
and job readiness program" in the Gate City area of Birmingham. Many of
the pushed-out students enrolled at the WOO, which is now independent of
the Salesians and continues to serve as a haven for the community. As a
member of Advocates of Children and Teachers National Organizing
Workshop (ACT-NOW), I joined activists from around the country in
honoring Steve Orel and the World of Opportunity with the Courage in
Education Award in 2003, at a conference held at the WOO.

Steve Orel's account of the pushouts, titled "Left Behind in Birmingham:
522 Pushed-out Students," is featured in Silent No More: Voices of
Courage in American Schools (Heinemann, 2003). Donations to the WOO in
Steve's memory may be made to the following address:

World of Opportunity
7429 Georgia Road
Birmingham, AL 35212-2921

Steve often signed email with these lines from a United Mine Workers
song, and they exemplify his philosophy, which we might also apply to
our struggles against the most pernicious aspects of the FCAT:

Step by step the longest march, can be won, can be won.
Many stones can form and arch, singly none, singly none.
And by union what we will, can be accomplished still.
Drops of water turn a mill, singly none, singly none.

Rest in peace, Steve.

Gloria