Time for a Separation

Filed in National by on May 4, 2015

And by that I mean, a separation of Delaware’s Democrats in the General Assembly from Governor Jack Markell (D). On Friday, the Governor went on Rick Jensen’s show on WDEL and stated that he would veto House Bill 50 (the opt-out bill) if it passed the House and Senate. HB 50 would allow parents to opt their child or children out of state standardized testing. The bill cleared the House Education Committee last week and it awaits a vote by the full House, which may come this week.

“I never say what I’m going to do to a bill in advance, but I can say I absolutely do not support that bill,” Markell said. Markell said it’s his job to do what’s best for Delaware kids, and he said opting out of the Smarter Balanced assessment isn’t the way.

“Civil rights communities across the country, the NAACP, the urban leagues have been very, very focused on not allowing opt out because they’re concerned that if the kids are allowed to opt out they’ll fall through the cracks,” he said. Markell also stood behind Delaware’s adoption of the Common Core standards.

They are falling through the cracks now because they are not learning. They spend all their time trying to prepare for an impossible test. But I digress.

These standardized tests are very unpopular with parents across the country and here in Delaware. They are very unpopular with teachers, and educators. They are only popular with those who want to “reform” education so as to either 1) privatize it, or 2) enrich themselves or their benefactors, or 3) both. So General Assembly Democrats have a decision to make.

Are they on the side of the people, of families, or parents and children, of teachers?

Or are they required to support Governor Markell just because it’s the Delaware Way?

Before they answer, they should consider this from WDDE:

Gov. Jack Markell’s (D) approval ratings have dropped significantly over the past year and a half, now standing just below 50 percent. Last September, a University of Delaware poll found 55 percent of Delawareans viewed Markell favorably. But new figures from Public Policy Polling out of Raleigh, North Carolina show that number dipped slightly to 49 percent – with 19 percent strongly approving of his job performance and 30 percent somewhat approving of it.

That’s a large skid from a similar UD poll conducted September 2013 where 62 percent of state residents approved of Markell. The governor has put forth several controversial measures during that time. His Priority Schools plan sparked fierce backlash from the Christina and Red Clay School Districts, while last year’s gas tax proposal fell flat with state lawmakers and voters alike. The most recent poll conducted last week found that approval of Delaware’s General Assembly tracked a bit higher at 52 percent.

Jack Markell has nothing to lose. He will not face the voters again. General Assembly Democrats will, some of them in less than 18 months. Markell’s numbers are going to continue to fall so long as he continues with his disastrous education policies. Democrats in the General Assembly would do well to separate themselves from him now, lest their poll numbers follow the Governor’s into negative territory.

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  1. The Honerable Mike Barbieri: Speaks | kavips | May 6, 2015
  1. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:10 am

    Kavips identifies the “Markell 13:”

    Gerald Brady
    Melanie George Smith
    Debra J. Heffernan
    Bryon H. Short
    S. Quinton Johnson
    Peter C. Schwartzkopf
    Valerie Longhurst
    Michael A. Barbieri
    Stephen T. Smyk
    Michael Ramone
    Earl G. Jaques Jr
    W. Charles Paradee
    Sean M. Lynn

    These 13 have never ever strayed far from any of jack’s preferred pieces of legislation… His threat of veto was aimed at these 13 to hold firm, no matter what their constituents want or said. These 13 are the governor’s pocket votes. Life should be very interesting for them across the next four days.

    Essentially these 13 are siding with the lobbyists and corporations against parents… They feel corporations know best.. whereas parents don’t know jack….

    I am surprised that Smyk is listed in there.

  2. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:18 am

    From Nancy Willing:

    State Rep. John Kowalko writes ~ As a result of my discussions with Speaker Schwartzkopf, I believe that HB 50 (OPT OUT Bill) should appear on Thursday’s (5/7/15) agenda for consideration on the House floor. The official agenda notice should be available on Tuesday. Hope to see you all there.

    So Thursday May 7th may be the day. We will know for sure tomorrow or later today.

  3. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:20 am

    To help #supportHB50, Kevin Ohlandt of Exceptional Delaware has the contact information for all of the members of the General Assembly.

  4. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Kevin also says that the GA can override the veto, which is definitely possible if Republicans see an opportunity to embarrass the Governor and take it rather than cowtow to their corporate masters. Link.

  5. Giffin says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:52 am

    It is awfully arrogant of the Governor to think he knows what is best for children ahead of their parents. As a parent I feel he is telling me I am too stupid to know what is best for my children and I should just submit to his all knowing intellgence.

  6. Mike Matthews says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:06 am

    It would be a great addition to this post, DelDem, to add the John Oliver video on standardized testing from his show last night. VERY good stuff!

  7. Jason330 says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:13 am

    When he thinks he knows what is best for children ahead of their parents, he is right more than 50% of the time.

  8. pandora says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:25 am

    Someone needs to make up their mind. Is he for parent choice, or not? Can’t have it both ways.

  9. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:31 am

    Thanks Mike, I will look for it.

  10. Tom McKenney says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:49 am

    It seems to me that the governor has been angling for a national position in education. Oh please spare us. I’m guessing he hopes to be Sec. of Education in the Clinton cabinet.

  11. puck says:
    May 4, 2015 at 11:58 am

    I hope Hillary is smart enough to know she needs a strong position on education and not to promise more of the same.

  12. Delaware Dem says:
    May 4, 2015 at 12:19 pm

    Puck, what would that be: a strong position on education?

  13. AQC says:
    May 4, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    Have you actually asked any of these legislators their reasoning? Labeling them as the Governor’s “pocket votes”, instead of having an intelligent debate seems unfair.

  14. Another Mike says:
    May 4, 2015 at 12:31 pm

    Maybe someone can correct me, but I believe parents or students may already opt out of these tests. I thought the purpose of HB50 was to prevent any kind of punishment for the students or schools if too many kids don’t take the tests.

    And, yes, John Oliver nailed it last night. See it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6lyURyVz7k.

  15. SussexWatcher says:
    May 4, 2015 at 3:40 pm

    “These 13 have never ever strayed far from any of jack’s preferred pieces of legislation.”

    Considering Lynn just got elected in November, Kavips appears to be painting with an awfully big brush.

  16. AQC says:
    May 4, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    This is the response I got from Mike Barbieri:

    I have heard a great deal about my decision to vote against HB 50. The argument that I have heard over and over again is that parents have a constitutional right to do what is best for their child and that this legislation codifies that. I do believe that parents have the right to do what is best for their child but when this starts moving in the direction of opting out of testing I have a problem. If they are encouraged to opt out of the Standardized Testing because it is what is best for the child then why not opt out of all testing because it is stressful and there is not reliability or validity in subject matter testing?

    I believe the issue is the switching of tests and the strain between DOE and the districts. If that is the issue, then address the problem and not circumvent this with legislation touted as strengthening parent rights.

    I am concerned if we support opting out of tests because we don’t like them. What would stop us from protesting switching text books because we don’t like what is in them? Our teachers are good and have some valid arguments about this standardized test. I would hope we could work with them to get this right, rather than this opt out provision. What if we find a standardized test that is a good one? The opt out provision would still prevail and we would be thwarted in our efforts to get a good reading on how our youth are doing compared to others.

    I am more than open to discussing this issue with anyone concerned.

  17. Kevin Ohlandt says:
    May 4, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    Has Barbieri actually read House Bill 50? It specifically states “state assessment”. If my kid wanted to opt out of classroom tests designed by his teacher I would have some very huge issues with that. Smarter Balanced and PARCC are the first time parents nationally, on both side of the fence, have united together to say no more. They are exercising their rights and it has people talking about education like never before. I don’t think parent opt-out is worth staking your political career on, but it’s their choice.

  18. Kevin Ohlandt says:
    May 4, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    Read the comments on there. Both Paradee and Lynn publicly announced they are backing the bill.

  19. AQC says:
    May 4, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    Well, Kevin, as stated, talking to Mike is an option. Or, you could just attack him on a blog.

  20. El Somnambulo says:
    May 4, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Kavips is flat-out wrong on Sean Lynn. He’s been to the left of Jack on almost everything since replacing Darryl Scott, who was also more progressive than Markell.

    I’d be surprised if Heffernan or B. Short were with Markell on HB 50, based on their other votes and current sponsorships on education bills.

    Plus, when there is a growing sentiment that our education policy is a disaster, political types want to avoid being part of the rubble. Self-preservation uber alles. They’re not backing a lame-duck governor at the possible expense of their political careers.

  21. Kevin Ohlandt says:
    May 4, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    AQC, that’s something I’m trying to work on believe it or not. But this doesn’t apply to the DOE. They have earned it. And I will reach out to Mike, as I have others the past few days.

  22. Intheknow says:
    May 4, 2015 at 10:37 pm

    El Som,
    You know Short far better than I do, so I respect your hunch that he might not bein Jack’s pocket on HB50.
    Re Heffernan, don’t forget that her husband is a member of the State Board of Ed. While the board no longer has the decision-making clout it had years ago, it certainly serves as a significant cheerleader for Markell’s dubious reforms and innovations. I’d be pleasantly surprised to see her split with the gov on this one, but I wouldn’t bet on it.

  23. John Young says:
    May 5, 2015 at 12:44 am

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6lyURyVz7k

  24. John Young says:
    May 5, 2015 at 12:51 am

    AQC says: “The opt out provision would still prevail and we would be thwarted in our efforts to get a good reading on how our youth are doing compared to others.”

    Just have Mike show us or gain evidence that DOE can, has, or will do this well.

    They never have, and if he’s honest with himself he knows this is true.

    The tests thwart themselves, offer no evidence of efficacy, and are intentionally misused by our DOE to rate, label, and punish teachers, kids, and schools.

    It needs to end, but this bill will NOT end all that. It will only let a parent keep it out of their house, and their child’s life. Nothing more, or less. The trumped up falsehoods of failure to test as a civil rights violation is a joke.

    “Opt out now”: The Seattle NAACP revives the legacy W.E.B Du Bois, demands an end to Common Core testing
    By I AM AN EDUCATOR on April 10, 2015

    “…the Opt Out movement is a vital component of the Black Lives Matter movement and other struggles for social justice in our region. Using standardized tests to label Black people and immigrants ‘lesser,’ while systematically under-funding their schools, has a long and ugly history in this country.” -Gerald Hankerson, current President of the Seattle/King County NAACP “It was not until I was long out of school and indeed after the [first] World War that there came the hurried use of the new technique of psychological tests, which were quickly adjusted so as to put black folk absolutely beyond the possibility of civilization.” –W.E.B Du Bois, Co-founder of the NAACP

    Seattle NAACP President Gerald Hankerson addresses the SBAC press conference.

    On Tuesday, April 7, 2015 Gerald Hankerson, the President of the Seattle/King County NAACP and Rita Green, the Education Chair of the Seattle/King County NAACP, began our press conference with a powerful idea and a call for action that holds the potential to help produce a tremendous social transformation. Together their opening remarks at the press conference—a gathering of parents, teachers, and community leaders that I helped to organize in opposition to the Common Core “Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium” (SBAC) tests—represent a clarion call to both education advocates and social justice activists across the country. Their simple, yet mighty, proposition is that the movement to oppose high-stakes standardized testing and the Black Lives Matter movement (and other struggles against oppression) should and can unite in a great uprising in service of transforming our schools into an environment designed to nurture our children, in body and intellect, rather than to rank, sort, and reproduce institutional racism.

    Seattle NAACP President Hankerson (font left) and Education Chair Rita Green (front right) with supporters outside of the press conference.

    Hankerson, kicking off the event, referenced the “long and ugly history” of using standardized tests in an effort to establish white supremacy. This is a history that the corporate “testocracy” is desperate to insure remains hidden from the public, as the uncovering of this history would bury their attempts to claim that standardizing testing is the key to closing the “achievement gap.” As the social justice education periodical Rethinking Schools recently editorialized,

    “Standardized tests first entered the public schools in the 1920s, pushed by eugenicists whose pseudoscience promoted the “natural superiority” of wealthy, white, U.S.-born males. High-stakes standardized tests have disguised class and race privilege as merit ever since. The consistent use of test scores to demonstrate first a “mental ability” gap and now an “achievement” gap exposes the intrinsic nature of these tests: They are built to maintain inequality, not to serve as an antidote to educational disparities.”

    One of these early eugenicists was Carl Brigham, a professor at Princeton University and author of the white supremacist manifesto, A Study of American Intelligence. Brigham left Princeton during WWI to develop and administer IQ tests used to sort the grunt soldiers, who would be used as cannon fodder, from the officers who would oversee the war. Upon the conclusion of the war, Brigham returned to Princeton and developed the Scholastic Aptitude Test, known as the SAT, that came to be used as a gatekeeper to Princeton. Soon standardized tests became commonplace in the public schools. As Alan Stoskepf wrote, “by the early 1920s, more than 2 million American school children were being tested primarily for academic tracking purposes. At least some of the decisions to allocate resources and select students for academic or vocational courses were influenced by eugenic notions of student worth.” It should be no surprise, then, that some of the most important early voices in opposition to intelligence testing—especially in service of ranking the races—came from leading African American scholars such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Horace Mann Bond, and Howard Long. In a statement that that is still denied by the testocracy today, Horace Mann Bond, in his work “Intelligence Tests and Propaganda,” wrote:

    But so long as any group of men attempts to use these tests as funds of information for the approximation of crude and inaccurate generalizations, so long must we continue to cry, “Hold!” To compare the crowded millions of New York’s East Side with the children of Morningside Heights [an upper-class neighborhood at the time] indeed involves a great contradiction; and to claim that the results of the tests given to such diverse groups, drawn from such varying strata of the social complex, are in any wise accurate, is to expose a fatuous sense of unfairness and lack of appreciation of the great environmental factors of modern urban life.

    Bond was expressing then what is now called the “Zip Code Effect,”—the fact that what standardized tests really measure is a student’s proximity to wealth and the dominant culture, resulting in wealthier, and predominately whiter, districts scoring better on tests. Of course you would expect the testocracy—mostly comprised of billionaires and the politicians who protect them—to ignore the history and powerful message of these early 20th century Black intellectuals who were in the struggle against the impacts of inequality on the schools. But what saddens me is that the national NAACP organization today has forgotten one of the most important lessons of its founder, the great W.E.B. Du Bois —one of the towering figures in the history of the struggle against both racism and standardized testing. Recently, the national NAACP came out in support of maintaining the requirement of annual standardized testing for the reauthorization of the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind. But as Seattle/King County NAACP Education Chair, Rita Green, stated at the press conference, “If the State really wants students to achieve academic performance at higher levels these dollars should be put in our classrooms and used for our children’s academic achievement instead of putting dollars in the pockets of test developers.” With President Hankerson and Education Chair Green’s direction, the Seattle NAACP is reviving the great lessons of the Black struggle and advocating for the kind of direct action against injustice that propelled the civil rights movement. President Hankerson concluded his opening statement (watch the full video of the press conference here) with these unequivocal words:

    “It is true we need accountability measures, but that should start with politicians being accountable to fully funding education and ending the opportunity gap. We are calling on all parents to opt out and opt out now!”

    Here then is the entire statement of the Seattle/King County NAACP on SBAC Common Core testing:

    It is the position of the Seattle King County Branch of the NAACP to come out against the Smarter Balanced Assessment tests, commonly referred to as SBAC. Seattle and Washington State public schools are not supplied with proper resources and a lack of equity within our schools continue to exist. The State of Washington cannot hold teachers responsible for the outcome of students test results; when these very students are attending schools in a State that ranks 47th out of 50 States in the Nation when it comes to funding education. Furthermore, Washington State cannot expect the majority of students to perform well on increased targeted performance assessments while the State continues to underfund education in direct violation of a Washington State Supreme Court Order. We also know that our students of color are disproportionately underfunded and will disproportionately be labeled failing by the new SBAC test. For this reason, we view the opt out movement as a vital component of the Black Lives Matter movement and other struggles for social justice. Using standardized tests to label Black people and immigrants as lesser—while systematically underfunding their schools—has a long and ugly history. It is true we need accountability measures, but that should start with politicians be accountable to fully funding education and ending the opportunity gap. The costs tied to the test this year will run into the hundreds of millions of dollars. If the State really wants students to achieve academic performance at higher levels these dollars should be put in our classrooms and used for our children’s academic achievement, instead of putting dollars in the pockets of test developers. We urge families to opt out of the SBAC test and to contact their local and state officials to advise them to abide by the State Supreme Court McCleary decision to fully fund education. –Rita Green, MBA; Seattle King County NAACP Education Chair

    He either supports parents, or corporatist test makers and reformers.

    It’s that simple.

  25. John Young says:
    May 5, 2015 at 12:54 am

    Lynn voted FOR HB 50 in committee. While that standard is for release only, I would be surprised if her switched to a “no” on the actual measure.

    He has articulated some concerns with the premise of the bills underlying assertion of opt out as a constitutional right, he clearly supports parents.

  26. fightingbluehen says:
    May 5, 2015 at 7:24 am

    “I am surprised that Smyk is listed in there.”

    Why? Smyk only recently became a Republican because he knew it was the only way to win in his district.

  27. Anonymous says:
    May 5, 2015 at 8:47 am

    The Gov is NOT going to back down. He is the co-chair of the Common Core initiative.
    He’s going to push & try to get HIS way!

  28. Nancy Willing says:
    May 5, 2015 at 1:10 pm

    These two comments on Kavips’ post should have been put along side the Delaware Dem May 4, 2015 at 10:10 am comment –

    May 3, 2015 at 8:45 am
    Sean Lynn
    I voted FOR HB50.
    Not sure where you are getting your facts. Or that I’m a “pocket vote”….

    May 3, 2015 at 10:38 am
    Trey Paradee
    I’m a “pocket vote” for the Governor??? You obviously know very little about me. For the record, I am a solid “Yes” on HB50.
    – Trey Paradee

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