A Seattle teacher who opposed the state mandated test refused to administer the test to his students even though he knew his actions might cost him his job.
A Seattle teacher is spending two weeks on leave without pay for refusing to give the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) to his sixth-graders this month at Eckstein Middle School.
Carl Chew, 60, who teaches science, wanted to take a stand against a test he considers harmful to students, teachers, schools and families.
Before the WASL started at Eckstein last week, Chew said he told Eckstein administrators that he would not give the exam. He said they tried to talk him out of it.
He said he spent the first few days of WASL testing working at the district's Science Materials Center, preparing student science kits, as district officials decided what to do.
He then was suspended without pay from Monday through May 2, the day WASL testing ends.
Mr. Chew has been teaching for eight years and has been an artist for decades. He feels strongly that the WASL needs to be replaced with a "gentler, kinder way of finding out what our students know and helping teachers educate them better." He has let his district know that he never plans to administer the WASL again and hopes to come up with a "win-win situation" for next year.
I always needed my job and paycheck too much to openly oppose district and state policies and requirements. That old advice, "Don't quit your day job" somehow caused me to stop and reflect before going into rebel mode. Mr. Chew's brave stance makes me think he is a pretty good artist.