CANDIDATE CHRISTIAN'S STATEMENT ON THE "WASL" (WASHINGTON ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING

Concerned about the growing revolt against the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL), I believe that parents and students have the right to opt out of the test. Many schools are very reasonable and simply accept a parent-signed note and provide alternative activities during testing times. Unfortunately, a few districts have found it appropriate to use coercion to get students to take the test and parents to change their minds about opting them out. At the request of some concerned mothers (CLICK HERE THE SEE THEIR WEBSITE, www.mothersagainstwasl.com), and parents (cf Parental Empowerment Network (PEN)), i have developed a short position statement below.

The WASL is a wasteful, invalid, unproven, abusive experiment. There are no law stating that any students need to take the test. To my knowledge, there is no program that recognizes WASL scores for admittance or placement, and if a school is utilizing them in this manner, there may be abuse. The legislature has not certified that the WASL is appropriate for any use other than the development of an accountability system for schools.

Parents rely on teacher-graded, daily work and tests to determine how their children are progressing academically. Parents rely on the attitudes of their children toward school to know how they are progressing socially and emotionally. WASL inhibits progress in all of these areas.

 Parents are ultimately responsible for the education of their children. They do not give up that right or responsibility when they entrust their children to the care and teaching of the public school. Each child in Washington State has the legal right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Many parents believe that WASL is getting in the way of a FAPE for their children.

Moreover, what counts in education is to give students the necessary skills, teach them the healthy lifestyle and the propre attitude to pursue their life's passion while making a living out of it. Quantitative tests only measure the intellect. And even then, many of them like the WASL are far from being full-proof. What schools need are encouraging, positive holistic "progress certifications" which will acknowledge the development of the entire person and help her or him develop necesary skill while ensure the fulfilment of the individual, as provides Unesco' s Constitution.

If elected, i will convence a task force with the superintendent Public Instruction, attorney general, the State Auditor, Washington Association of School Administrators, Washington State School Directors Association and
Washington Education Association to discuss how we can solve this problem and other education issues such as salaries, curriculem, lifestyle, organic restaurant, more sun light in school's etc.

Christian Pierre Joubert

Candidate Governor

CLICK HERE FOR THE FOR SUBSTANTIATION OF THE CLAIM THAT WASL IS ABUSIVE.

CLICK HERE FOR UNESCO STANDARDS