EAGnews spoke with Happel about the letter and outlined her objections – from the millions of dollars wasted on the tests and preparation to the erosive effect the testing has on her learning disabled students’ self-esteem – in blog published today.
Hours after the original story went online, Happel was summoned to the Oconee County School District administration building, where she was suspended with pay and banned from district property. Officials told the West Oak Middle School teacher she allegedly violated the district’s confidentiality policy for discussing her concerns about her middle school students.
“They told me that while I have a right to my opinion about Common Core and testing, what I don’t have a right to do is talk about my students,” Happel said.
“I was put on administrative leave. I’m not allowed back on school grounds pending an investigation.”
In Happel’s letter – which was sent to district superintendent Micheal Thorsland, school board chairman Andrew Inabinet, and three administrators at West Oak – the English teacher explained that her special education students struggle with reading and other academics, but are expected to perform at grade level on standardized tests.
Many of Happel’s students also struggle with self-esteem as a result of their learning disabilities, and she believes the pressure from standardized testing only amplifies their issues.
“I object to forcing children to sit through hours of bubble tests when they don’t even understand what they are doing and why they are doing it,” Happel wrote in her letter.
“This is inhumane.”...
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