NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi made the call and NTA answered. On June 8th 28 NTA members boarded a bus to head to Albany to the “One Voice United” Rally, sponsored by the New York State United Teachers and more than one dozen other education, labor, community, business and faith based organizations. The focus of the rally was on the state’s over-emphasis on standardized testing and increasing power of giant testing companies over education policy.
When asked why she felt attending the rally was important , Special Ed teacher Cori MacAlpin said “ I’m going because SED must see and hear the impact their testing and other mandates are having on students and teachers”. Rally-goers and speakers asked for a moratorium on the use of standardized tests in high stakes decisions for students and teachers until the State Education Department and Regents properly implement the state's new Common Core learning standards.
“I am here for the students, including my own children, who are so stressed about testing” said English Teacher Ellen Hughes ,of the middle school. “I cried to see a boy who worked so hard on his ELA and was unable to finish it. The tests are removing the joy students should experience; reading great books, writing wonderful stories and poems. The tests are killing imagination.”
Carolyn Monahan agreed , saying “I believe that improved quality of testing, not increased quantity in assessing NYS students is needed. Big corporations like Pearson and wealthy individuals like Bill Gates should not be dictating curriculum or policy of public education,”
Thousands of parents, teachers, students, union members and community members filled Empire State Plaza, from one end to the other. Parent groups were there with signs on how stressed their children were. Children held signs saying things like, “I am 8. I have to sit for 420 minutes of testing. More than the SAT.” Unions from the university level to small rural schools stood shoulder to shoulder shouting their agreement with the speakers and showing their disapproval of how Albany has been managing things.
“I am excited about being at the Rally,” said Monique Jones of Valley Cottage Elementary. “This will be my first teachers’ union rally. I am so proud to be a part of such a great organization. I am happy to stand up for my students and express my feelings about the NYS testing.”
Many of the speakers at the rally shared the sentiments many of the NTA members had. In his speech, Dick Ianuzzi, said, “We are not against testing as long as it is done right and fair.” AFT president Randi Weingarten says the AFT is in favor of Common Core standards. But, she said, the rush to implement unfair testing will be the Common Core’s death. She claimed that the state has made the Common Core about testing and not teaching.
Some offered comments on the corporations that stand to profit from these new mandates. Teacher of the Year, Richard Ognibene spoke, echoing the sentiment of the rally, “Working alone will no longer suffice. One teacher or one union leader or one parent cannot compete with the testing industrial complex that dominates our schools. So today we stand together with students and teachers and parents and administrators and board members. Today we speak with one voice.” NEA executive committee member Joyce Powell said to the testing machine, “Our students are not for sale!”
There was a definite feel of solidarity from the speakers and amongst the crowd to fight against Albany. “I would rather take on that [fight] with people like all of you,” President of UFT , Michael Mulgrew declared, because we “are the people who have decided to make a difference in the lives of children.”
Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, told the crowd: "You are not in this fight alone! Your union brothers and sisters across New York State are here with you. Your fight for the future of public education in this state is everybody's fight!"
A highlight was when Nyack Board member Michael Mark played and sang with Tom Chapin . Chapin wrote a song “Not on the test” with lyrics that really hit home like “Each box that you mark on each test you take. Remember your teachers, their jobs are at stake.” They then welcomed NTA’s own Mary Mark to the stage and they all sang a song that Michael Mark and Chapin wrote for the occasion called “One Voice”.
With hope that Albany will listen and get it right, the NTA made their voice heard. Anna Maria Giuffre and Shari Colucci agreed upon reflection, “What a wonderful feeling being a part of this rally and seeing how much work our Union Reps do for the well being of our students. Our favorite sign of the day was ‘Just Let us teach!”’