Test Protest

No Child Left Behind created its first "conscientious objector" this week. On Tuesday, middle school teacher David Wasserman, 36, who instructs a multi-grade class at the Sennett Middle School in Madison, Wis., opted to sit in the teachers' lounge rather than administer the state exam, which is required under the controversial federal law. After word of his protest was reported in the local paper, then picked up by a newswire, he was deluged with congratulatory phone calls and messages of support from across the nation. He spoke to NEWSWEEK's Peg Tyre about his actions. Excerpts:

NEWSWEEK: Was this a spontaneous protest?
David Wasserman: No. I gave my principal a heads-up that this was coming. I did it in a way that my students wouldn't be aware of what was happening on their test day.

Why did you take this stand?
I feel that the tests assess academic achievement in biased ways, with a challenging and confusing format of questions and answers. The tests don't engage thinking, questioning or connecting--ideas that we reinforce in our school the rest of the year.

What kind of statement were you trying to make?
That the tests have a negative impact--financially, morally and emotionally--on kids, the parents and the community. They aren't positive for teachers either. They are not learning tools. As teachers, we don't learn how kids did or didn't do on the tests so that we can improve. The scores are released to the media directly, so they can highlight schools that haven't made Adequate Yearly Progress [the standard under the law]. The teachers must take that blow and then somehow rally to raise those scores without the information they need and with even less support from the community.

What has been the response to your actions?
Overwhelmingly supportive and positive. I'm getting e-mails from all over the country, most of them saying "Bravo, I support you. I believe the same thing."

Aren't tests important to measure whether or not kids are learning?
The state test is one type of assessment. It only measures one type of learning. Only one type of learner can successfully show what they know. We are leaving out a huge majority of children.