FW: High Stakes Testing Forum

[Sean Obrien <sobrien@COLUMBUS.RR.COM>]

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From: Mitch Balonek <mbalonek@mac.com>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 2001 18:48:24 -0400
To: Mary Obrien <sobrien@columbus.rr.com>
Subject: High Stakes Testing Forum

Mary,

Please Post...

Just wanted to let you know our testing forum yesterday was a positive
step in Toledo toward raising public awareness.  Forty-two Toledoans
attended the forum, and most left understanding the problems with high
stakes tests.

The story behind the organization of the forum is more interesting,
though.  The PTA of a local elementary school approached the school
principal about using the school auditorium for the forum.  The
organizers also, invited State Rep. Teresa Fedor to speak,  She accepted.

However, when the flyer went out listing two other speakers in the forum
(myself and Political Science Professor, Dr. Carter Wilson-testing
opponent), Teresa Fedor promptly pulled out, saying she wouldn't
participate because she didn't like the list of speakers.  Fedor
contacted the school principal--not the PTA organizers, informed the
principal of her withdrawal from the forum and must have encouraged the
principal to refuse the use of the school facility.

The next day, organizers were informed of the withdrawal of Fedor and
told they could not use the school facilities, nor could they pass out
flyers to students to take home to parents.  When the PTA leaders
questioned the principal about her change of heart, she refused to
discuss the issue and has turned away all parent questions on the
subject.

Needless to say, the PTA parents are up in arms, and they are highly
suspicious of the district's handling of this situation.  They came to
the forum more curious than ever, and left more enlightened.

Our district has begun an active campaign to rid the district of any
oppositional opinions.  I wonder what the state has done--besides
threatening the loss of funding--to make administrators so fearful of
dissent among the parental ranks?

Oh, and by the way, guess who Fedor and the school did not want
participating in the forum?  Yours truely,
Mitch Balonek
Blackballed radical

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