BTF TO BUFFALO SCHOOL BOARD, COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION AND BOARD OF REGENTS – END DEGRADING, DESTRUCTIVE AND HURTFUL ACTIONS AGAINST STUDENTS AND PARENTS  

The Buffalo Teachers Federation today called upon the Buffalo Board of Education, Commissioner of Education and Board of Regents (attached) to ensure that the destructive and hurtful actions (directives) against parents and students as outlined in the attached resolution cease immediately.
“The Buffalo School Board, Commissioner of Education and Board of Regents must take immediate action to ensure that the degrading, destructive and hurtful actions/directives against opt-out students and parents are ended prior to the next 3-8 State Standardized test in May 2018.

I ask how you would feel if you put yourself in the position of a third grade (or 4-8) student who is being told that he/she cannot attend a school trip, go to an ice cream social, have a ticket for a mountain bike raffle or is being pressured by the principal to take a test that your parents, in your best interest, don’t want you taking (the 3-8 State tests).

It is obvious, since these tests provide no timely information that can be used by teachers to help their students, that administrators are not taking
these degrading, destructive and hurtful actions in the interest of students’ education but rather to make themselves “look good” by having a high percentage of students take these tests and therefore fewer students being opted-out.

We understand that similar actions are occurring in other schools districts.

If the School Board, Commissioner and Board of Regents don’t act to prevent these actions (directives), in my opinion, they are condoning child abuse”, stated Philip Rumore, President of the Buffalo Teachers Federation.

PR:su