We could see similar high opt out numbers as students in 3rd through 8th grade are scheduled to take another round of Common Core tests in mathematics this Wednesday. WBFO's Focus on Education reporter Eileen Buckley reports says a Buffalo school teacher has created a new opt out video.
Bennett High School math teacher Jeff Grossi, also known as rapper MC Zill and his finance, Katie Ann, created a new video featuring a rap song called Choose to Refuse.
"It provides a voice for people and a means to say it's okay to talk about it and what's wrong with it and how we can fix it," said Grossi.
The video encourages students and parents to opt out of standardized testing. WBFO first introduced you to Grossi earlier this year with his We're Teaching anti-Common Core rap that has had more than 29,000 views.
Although Grossi teaches high school students, he's working to defend elementary students against too much testing.
"Grades 3 through 8 there is just constant test preparing and mid-module assessments," said Grossi. "It seems like creativity is out of the classroom."
WBFO News asked Grossi why a teacher would try to influence a student not to take an exam and if it is setting a bad example to students. "Just because you don't like it or you don't like the system, you don't have to go in and take it?," asked Buckley.
"I want to be very clear that I am not doing that,"answered Grossi. "I'm just providing knowledge about their right to do so, and as an educator and teacher, I'm not saying you should opt out, I'm saying you have the right to opt out."
The video encourages repeatedly encourages those watching to go to the New York State Allies for Public Education website. The organization is one of the leaders in showing parents how to opt out.
"In many respects it's what activists in a community do," said Interim Buffalo Schools Superintendent Donald Ogilvie in answering questions about the protest against Common Core testing. Ogilvie continues to recommend students take all the standardized tests, but he realizes there are many unanswered questions and concerns.
"I think there's some legitimate concerns about the uses to which these tests have been placed. It's unfortunate that this reaches a crescendo when the tests are administered when I think it is just as effective, perhaps more so, if this was month after month until some kind of an adjustment were made," said Ogilvie.
But opt out numbers, released by the Buffalo School District Friday, were low. Only 7% of city students in grades three through eighth opted out of the ELA's last week. That compares to some of the high opt out numbers in of 70% in the West Seneca Schools.
Ogilvie also points out that he believes hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, have been spent on professional development to train teachers in Common Core. "But it carries a prices tag with the potential of losing aid. That doubles the dilemma as far as I'm concerned," stated Ogilvie.
Grossi tells WBFO News his mission is simple and straightforward. He said he believes the high-stakes tests are having a harsh impact on public schools with a high burden placed on teachers.
"We are not against assessing students. We understand it is an integral part of the process, however, we are against tests that are fundamentally wrong and that changed the whole school from being student centered to being test centered. That is completely inappropriate," said Grossi.
Grossi lyrics say this is "not how learning is supposed to be, over testing is limiting". Grossi said Buffalo students are "more than a test score."
