Read two letters to the to RG Editor with refutations 

of a writer's critique to Larry's Guest Editorial below

CAPE member and retired teacher Paul Bodin:

https://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20200101/creativity-vs-memorization

Reader John Crisalli:

https://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20191231/teaching-challenge

Read CAPE member Larry's Guest Editorial in the Register-Guard

https://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20191222/guest-view-standardized-tests-get-failing-grade

SAT and ACT College Admissions Tests 

A coalition of students, advocacy and a school district (mostly students of color) are suing the University of California system to stop SAT/ACT use for admissions. "They argue that the use of standardized tests has led to the creation of a vast test-prep industry that privileges affluent families who can afford to send their children to tutoring. Other measures — like grades and teacher recommendations — would provide a fairer way of judging students." Yes, it's a racket designed to advantage families with resources. It's plain as day.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/10/us/sat-act-uc-lawsuit.html

Read this Letter to the Register-Guard Editor
by retired teacher and tutor Mary Bauer

in Praise and Support of Local Teachers

https://www.registerguard.com/opinion/20191128/thankful-for-our-strong-educators

Read parent Jo Schroeder's column in Eugene Weekly

on Over-Testing Her Kindergartener

https://www.eugeneweekly.com/2019/10/24/democracy-and-education-4/

100% Opt Out Movement

Opt Out of All 4j Standardized Tests

Here's why the 100% Opt-Out Movement matters: By parents expanding the concept and breadth of opting out, this could conceivably force the system to respond in an authentic, respectful and accountable way. It places the testing system on the defense, that is, they will have to justify the over 112 standardized tests given for an ever-expanding set of rationales. If it is in the student's interest to take a test such as ELPA, then parents can certainly make that choice. Right now, parents have no idea how many tests are given, which ones, what they are for, when they are given, etc. The system is unaccountable and gives as many tests as it wishes, whenever it wishes, and for whatever reason it wishes. This has got to stop and parents can be the ones to do it. But it will have to be a critical mass of parents, otherwise the system will run roughshod over parents' rights in order to safeguard the testing-based model of education.

Read educational researcher and author Alfie Cohen's recent Opinion 
in the New York Times

on the failure of standardized teaching and assessment.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/opinion/sunday/schools-testing-ranking.html

"The standards-and-accountability movement is not about leaving no child behind. 
To the contrary, it is an elaborate sorting device, intended to separate wheat from chaff. 
The fact that students of color, students from low-income families and students whose first language isn’t English are disproportionately defined as chaff makes the whole enterprise even more insidious."