Fourth Grader suspended for failing to answer test question
Fourth Grader Suspended For Not Answering A WASL Question
Updated 16 May 2005: Suspension letter and legal requirements for administering WASL added.
Updated 16 May 2005: Full text of suspension letter added. Details at bottom of post.
Nine year-old Tyler Stoken, a student in the Aberdeen Public School District, didn’t know how to answer an essay question on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning test. As punishment for leaving the question blank his principal suspended him for five days.
Tyler paraphrases the question saying, “You look out one day at school and see your principal flying by a window. In several paragraphs write what happens next.” He’s asked, “So why didn’t you answer that question?” He says, “I couldn’t think of what to write the essay without making fun of the principal.”
He refused to answer the question even after his mother was called to the school. Tyler’s mother Amy Wolfe says, “And he said he didn’t know the answer. He just didn’t know what to write. And they were telling me to make him answer the question.”
He still didn’t, so Tyler was given a 5-day suspension. In the letter that went home to mother, the principal writes, “The fact that Tyler chose to simply refuse to work on the WASL after many reasonable requests is none other than blatant defiance and insubordination.”
Shortly after receiving the suspension letter they received a phone call from Superintendent Marty Kay apologizing for the suspension.
“Because I think a mistake was made and over reacting to Tyler’s refusal to complete the test,” said Aberdeen school superintendent Marty Kay.
…
The superintendent wants Tyler immediately re-instated at school. But Tyler’s mother says the damage has been done. Mom tells son, “Well, nobody will scream at you again. I promise you that.”
Tyler doesn’t want to go to that school any more and you can’t blame him. He was manipulated and then punished because he couldn’t answer a test question.
WASL opponents also believe the principal and teachers broke the law by interfering with the WASL test.
It had better have been a violation of the testing rules. If a teacher and principal browbeating a test taker into answering a question in any particular manner is not against the rules then the test is worse than useless.
(Tip credit to Mike Sabo)
UPDATE 16 May 2005
Suspension Letter
Test administration instructions
This excerpt from the suspension letter shows a striking lack of familiarity with basic mathematics:
As he chose NOT to perform, he will get a zero on that section, which will be averaged with the scores of all of the other students in his class: in this case, 10 other children. Obviously, a 0, when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the average. Thus, he has compromised the representation of what his peers know and are able to do. Their scores will be reported as a group, not as individuals. Additionally, this extends to the whole fourth grade, as our school score, the one that is reported to the state and the media, is an average of all fourth grade students. Thus, his choice impacts Tyler, his classmates, his grade mates, and his school. As we have worked so hard this year to improve our writing skills, this is a particularly egregious wound.
Principal MCarthy is trying to make a case for the severity of Tyler’s actions but instead shows in graduated steps how little his failure to answer the question actually affects anything. She states that his grade is averaged into those of his class so his zero is mitigated by the nine other students in his class. But wait, it’s actually averaged into the entire fourth grade student body. That makes its actual impact exceptionally small.
She also has a problem with the basic principles of grading. His failure to answer the question will get him a zero for that question but she represents this as if he will receive a zero for the entire test: “Obviously, a 0, when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the average.”
It is also very clear that Principle MCarthy violated the rules on administering this test.
You may not point out to students an incorrectly answered question, point out questions that have not been completed, or read and comment on student essays.
…
RCW 28A.635.040 and WAC 180-87-060 both provide penalties for the unauthorized use or disclosure of test content and flagrant disregard of generally recognized professional standards in test preparation and administration. Unprofessional conduct must be reported to the Office of Professional Practices at OSPI.
As the test is administered by legal fiat this gross abuse may also constitute breaking the law.
(Tip credit to Bob for finding the links to these two resources.)
UPDATE2 16 May 2005
The site with the suspension letter is offline so I am reproducing the letter here.
Central Park School
601 School Road
Aberdeen, WA 98520May 6, 2005
Dear Ms. Wolfe:
After much thought and after carefully weighing several factors, I have reached the following decision: Tyler is suspended from attendance at Central park school for a period of five (5) days beginning Monday, May 9, 2005 through Friday, May 13, 2005. This decision has been reached for the following reasons: Tyler refused, on six separate occasions, to comply with a reasonable request made by his teachers, myself, and even you, his parent. In schools, when a teacher or other staff member gives a direction or a request to perform, a student is expected to do so. In other instances where students have simply refused, consequences have been imposed. The fact that Tyler chose to simply refuse to work on the WASL after many reasonable requests is none other than blatant defiance and insubordination. Therefore, a reasonable consequence is a short-term suspension.
Unfortunately, the consequences of Tyler’s decision do not end with this disciplinary action. Not only will his achievement be misrepresented on the highest stakes measure of academic performance he has met to date, but the scores of his classmates will also be invalid. As he chose NOT to perform, he will get a zero on that section, which will be averaged with the scores of all of the other students in his class: in this case, 10 other children. Obviously, a 0, when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the average. Thus, he has compromised the representation of what his peers know and are able to do. Their scores will be reported as a group, not as individuals. Additionally, this extends to the whole fourth grade, as our school score, the one that is reported to the state and the media, is an average of all fourth grade students. Thus, his choice impacts Tyler, his classmates, his grade mates, and his school. As we have worked so hard this year to improve our writing skills, this is a particularly egregious wound.
You have the right to an informal conference with me concerning this suspension, pursuant to WAC 180-40-280. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at XXX-XXXX.
Sincerely,
Olivia McCarthy, Principal
CC: Marty Kay, Superintendent
Tita Mallory, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment Barb Jones, Fourth Grade teacher Shawn Sanford, Fourth Grade teacher
> “You look out one day at school and see
> your principal flying by a window. In
> several paragraphs write what happens
> next.”
“I’d take my WASL, tear it into little pieces, and shoot spitballs at his body splattered on the sidewalk below the window.”
Of course, then he’d get expelled for making “terrorist threats”.
Fourth Grader suspended
Zero Intelligence is not a proper term for this. It was Negative Intelligence. That question is absoutely stupid, and if he had answered it, he would have been more exposed to suspension because practically any anwer I can think of could be viewed a…
Let’s see, a test that presents a wildly implausible fantasy scenario and asks the student to complete it.
This is either: a pychological/cultural survey that violates federal law requiring explicit parental consent,
OR,
a test which evaluates belief structures of a religious nature, which is unconstitutional.
Either way, it appears there is a good case for suing the school for just ADMINISTERING the test, let alone coercing answers on it.
The apology is insufficient; any school administrator that would abuse a child in this fashion must be removed so that this can not happen again.
This is wrong on many levels. It is abusing a child. It is an attempt to influence the test results.
An apology doesn’t get it done.
A kid refused to do his schoolwork after being told by his teacher and his mother to do so. They should have let the suspension stand, instead his mother coddles him and swears to protect him from the meanies. What do you think he learned from this?
When I was in grade school, I once deliberately tripped a teacher, causing her to land in/on a plastic waste basket. The principal gave me a stern lecture, called my parents, then returned me to class. How can you justify a 5 day suspension of a child for refusing to disrespect authority? IF he HAD filled in the question, and his answer had been in any way typical of a fourth grade boy’s probable answer, he’d be in jail right now, and possibly facing felony charges. He’d certainly be permanently expelled from school.
Tina:
I have NEVER heard of ANYBODY EVER being suspended for not answering a test question. In every single case I have ever seen, done, or heard of, the question just gets marked wrong on the test.
Also, from what I can tell, this was not some form of classwork, but rather some stupid standardized test that doesn’t count for a grade, except for the teachers.
What does this teach the kid, Tina? It teaches him that the government will use whatever force it can to make you comply to its rules.
I found the principal’s suspension letter at http://www.bloggingbaby.com/entry/1234000360043087/
When taking a test, a student can always choose not to answer and get no credit for the answer. For some reason on these tests, individual scores are not reported. The letter shows the concern for the school’s test results more than the child’s. But the fact that the school tried to manipulate the child’s testing is most likely a severe violation of the testing rules. Most standardized test rules do not allow the school to even review the answers.
Here is the principal’s letter:
Central Park School
601 School Road
Aberdeen, WA 98520
May 6, 2005
Dear Ms. Wolfe:
After much thought and after carefully weighing several factors, I have reached the following decision: Tyler is suspended from attendance at Central park school for a period of five (5) days beginning Monday, May 9, 2005 through Friday, May 13, 2005. This decision has been reached for the following reasons: Tyler refused, on six separate occasions, to comply with a reasonable request made by his teachers, myself, and even you, his parent. In schools, when a teacher or other staff member gives a direction or a request to perform, a student is expected to do so. In other instances where students have simply refused, consequences have been imposed. The fact that Tyler chose to simply refuse to work on the WASL after many reasonable requests is none other than blatant defiance and insubordination. Therefore, a reasonable consequence is a short-term suspension.
Unfortunately, the consequences of Tyler’s decision do not end with this disciplinary action. Not only will his achievement be misrepresented on the highest stakes measure of academic performance he has met to date, but the scores of his classmates will also be invalid. As he chose NOT to perform, he will get a zero on that section, which will be averaged with the scores of all of the other students in his class: in this case, 10 other children. Obviously, a 0, when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the average. Thus, he has compromised the representation of what his peers know and are able to do. Their scores will be reported as a group, not as individuals. Additionally, this extends to the whole fourth grade, as our school score, the one that is reported to the state and the media, is an average of all fourth grade students. Thus, his choice impacts Tyler, his classmates, his grade mates, and his school. As we have worked so hard this year to improve our writing skills, this is a particularly egregious wound.
You have the right to an informal conference with me concerning this suspension, pursuant to WAC 180-40-280. If you have questions, feel free to contact me at XXX-XXXX.
Sincerely,
Olivia McCarthy, Principal
CC: Marty Kay, Superintendent
Tita Mallory, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
Barb Jones, Fourth Grade teacher
Shawn Sanford, Fourth Grade teacher
The directions for administering this test is at http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/pubdocs/2005DFAGrade4.pdf
It says, “You may not point out to students an incorrectly answered question, point out questions that have not been completed, or read and comment on student essays.”
It also says, “RCW 28A.635.040 and WAC 180-87-060 both provide penalties for the unauthorized use or disclosure of test content and flagrant disregard of generally recognized professional standards in test preparation and administration. Unprofessional conduct must be reported to the Office of Professional Practices at OSPI.”
The tetsing agency that sells them the test should be notified - punitive acts would be against the testing protocol.
Note that the child was afraid to answer because what he thought would be making fun of the principal. His fear was clearly justified. He KNEW the though police were watching what he wrote or didn’t write.
I’d say child protect safety agencies should be notified not the school board.
Dave K
> “You look out one day at school and see
> your principal flying by a window. In
> several paragraphs write what happens
> next.”
“I’d say, ‘Damn, these are good ’shrooms.’”
What do I win?
Repeatedly coercing the student, cheating on the standardized exam, obviously possessed by this “high stakes” test… and even putting her warped view in writing, wow, I have to agree, unfortunate, but she does not belong in a position of authority, period. Adios.
But when the principal flew by, was that before or after the house fell on her sister?
In Texas, that would be grounds for sanctions against the individual “educators” (if they deserve the title, given their misconduct), the school, and possibly the district. The actions taken would be a direct violation of state law.
Now, since a student is not required to do something illegal at the directive of any member of the school staff, how on earth can he be punished for that refusal?
This link http://www.educationreformbooks.net/index.html
should give both parents,teachers and school admins much to think about.
Also there are positive alternative schools out there. Waldorf schools and Sudbury schools provide a healthy, holistic learning environment that respects the students and nurtures their love of learning.
matt, you are my hero.
Alas, the stupidity exhibited in Aberdeen, Washington is not limited to that small city. It is occurring all over the nation as a consequence of a total loss of perspective on what education should be about. Only the tests count.
I’ve written an op-ed page length (750 words) piece about this and sent it to a variety of outlets. To soon to know if any will use it. Anyone who wants to see it can contact me at gbracey1@verizon.net
> “You look out one day at school and see
> your principal flying by a window. In
> several paragraphs write what happens
> next.”
“I’d say, ‘Damn, these are good ’shrooms.’”
What do I win?
Well, if it were up to me, I’d say you have won the contest for the funniest comment so far.
But if you were a student in Aberdeen Publik Skool District, you’d probably get suspended for the rest of the year. You know, zero tolerance for drug abuse.
@ Bill
“This is wrong on many levels”
We could have ended the comments right after you posted these words. That one sentence should describe the thoughts of everyone who has read this story.
The WASL tests have long been a point of contention in this state.
Just to top it off, if you flunk out of the test (ignoring the fact that the test itself doesn’t count towards your class grade/credit), you can’t graduate high school.
“As he chose NOT to perform, he will get a zero on that section, which will be averaged with the scores of all of the other students in his class: in this case, 10 other children. Obviously, a 0, when averaged with only 10 other scores, can drastically impact the average.”
Wait… You cannot tell me that a statistical assessment of a school’s WASL perfomance includes the extremes. I refuse to believe it. That’s silly. Aparantly the principal’s confusion on mathematical issues is far-reaching in nature.
Sue the school, sue the bitch.
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE SUPPORTED TYLER AND THOSE WHO SAW THAT THE PRINCIPAL WAS IN THE WRONG. HE’S DOING HIS BEST TO GET BACK TO NORMAL WHILE FINISHING THE SCHOOL YEAR OUT AT HOME. I HOPE ALL PARENTS WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR CHILDREN WHEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS. ANYONE WHO NEEDS ANY HELP UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE WASL IS ABOUT I SUGGEST YOU GO TO MOTHERSAGAINSWASL.
*winces, rubs ears*
Your thanks are appreciated, Mrs. Wolfe. However, the capslock was not necessary.
As for the case… if this doesn’t get the ball rolling against the hideous mind-torture that is the WASLs, nothing will. Washington is very good at getting good educational ideas wrong; believe me, I spent six years as a student there.
Well here’s a good one. I teach/taught in a public school in WA State. A kid said he was refusing to take the WASL b/c he was special ed nd worked hard for his grades and didn’t want the failing scores he knew he would get to appear on his transcript. When I told him that was his RIGHT, other kids inquired of him how to refuse as well. I told them they could look up information on WASL refusal on GOOGLE. 6 weeks later, after being “investigated” by a misguided administrator, I was asked to resign (which I had been planning to do within the year any way) but NOT as a result of simply mentioning to a students that he had rights! WASL has made administrators go crazy! It’s making teachers paranoid and it is sucking the creativity out of the classroom — no wonder our kids hate school these days. Teachers are not allowed to do ANYTHING but WASL preparation. Administrators run off all teachers who do not “submit.” So all that’s left are people who, against all professional training (and most professional judgement) agree to “teach to the WASL.” Even though the state says the WASL will not affect classroom teaching or student learning, our job descritions in my (former) district say flat out “The employee will teach to the WASL.” We offer classes called “WASL MATH” and “WASL ENGLISH” and “WASL READING” and “WASL Writing.” It’s absolutely cult-ish…
The treatment of Tyler was appalling to read and we are grateful that he seems to be doing well at home. My sister and I have decided that after alot of research that we just have to do something about the WASL testing and are going to hand out pamplets with refusals attached and are anticipating doing it very soon, we are imploring any parents that feel negatively about the WASL to do the same. Take a stand for your children, don’t let the taking of one test determine whether they graduate from high school, get college grants, get into certain colleges or even what jobs our children will be allowed to be employed at when they are grown. We have plenty of research over countless hours concerning the WASL and will willingly share any information that is requested from us. Recently we found this website and read the teacher’s comment; the one that was asked to resign simply for informing a student of their rights, and realised that even getting students opting out of the testing isn’t enough, we need to get the WASL repealed entirely since all of the schooling is being geared towards the taking of the WASL even if your student doesn’t participate in the testing he/she is still being force-fed what the government believes our children should know and not what we the parents do.
Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act appears to be using the WASL to remake the future leaders of America into what Bush has seemingly decided would become the moral standard of “OUR COUNTRY”. Since our teachers today have no room to teach the basics of reading, writing and arithmatic-let alone art or even a Christmas play, all of their efforts must be to prepare students of all ages for this be all, to end all high pressure test that means so much, that our childrens failing/passing of the WASL can define their livelyhood and well into their futures.
One factor that hasn’t been brought up is the reason tests get so much attention from administration. Administrators are held accountable for the learning that goes on in their school, and there may be funding for the school riding on it. So now administrators aren’t quite as much the bad-guy. This problem is most likely a result of the administration truely believing that more money for the school will go further for the childrens’ learning.
It is bullshit that they are trying to do the right thing through decieving a child about his or her rights! It’s a rampant problem in America that unknowing people hand over their rights to authorities of all types.
When I was in 10th grade, I took some type of standard test in essay form that required an analyzation of Truman’s decision to drop the atomic bomb in WW2. My entire rough draft was a fictional story featuring Mulder and Scully from the X-Files and described how Truman was really an alien implanted into the US government. The idea behind dropping the bomb was to start a global nuclear war that would destroy most of the human race and allow the aliens to colonize earth. I wrote this story to break the incredible boredom and monotony that had overcome me while taking this test. My final draft (the graded essay) was a real answer to the topic but the rough draft had to be submitted with everything. I passed the test and never heard anything about my original rough draft. Oh well…today, it seems that the tests actually are requiring kids to come up with fictional stories instead of actually learning anything real or analyzing real world decisions in history. The principal is flying by the window??? Come on! No wonder other countries think Americans are so stupid!