Concerned Graham and Parks Parents
Wednesday, September 18, 2002

Dear Fellow Graham and Parks Parents,

We have just learned that our school assembly is to be the site of a press conference by the state Department of Education tomorrow (Thursday Sept 19 at 10:30 am) to present the MCAS scores from the spring 2002 test, broken down by districts and by schools.

Parents and the school's Steering Committee have not been consulted or voted on the event.  Many are simply opposed to having the school day disrupted, children taken from their classrooms and gym cancelled for the day at a time when routine is just being established.  The presence of the media and the use of children to promote acceptance of MCAS testing is unacceptable.

We are deeply disturbed and offended that our school and our children will be used to further the political agenda of the state DOE. These events are carefully orchestrated, highly politicized propaganda exercises. At many other schools in different communities, they have had a circus-like, pep-rally character. No dissent from students, teachers, or parents has been permitted.

Many parents have deep reservations about the MCAS test and how it is being used.  Parents of minority children are alarmed at the high failure rates among urban children.   The Cambridge School Committee voted to ignore MCAS passing scores and to continue to award diplomas to students meeting Cambridge graduation requirements.  Graham and Parks students and parents have boycotted the tests in large numbers and worked state-wide to raise concerns about the harmful effects of  MCAS tests.  (For more information visit www.massparents.org).

The staging of a MCAS media event at Graham and Parks is wrong for many reasons.  Most importantly, it is wrong for our children.

We believe that parents and teachers need to be consulted and need to consent to their children being used in this manner by the State Dept of Education. Please let our principal and our school council know that in the future such decisions need to receive the consent from a substantial majority of G&P families.

Please join us in a peaceful demonstration tomorrow, Thursday Sept 19 on the sidewalk in front of the school, from 9:45 to 10:30  AM  (when the press will be arriving to cover the 10:30 press conference). We will  have signs there for people to carry, if you want, and anti-MCAS buttons.

Sincerely, Jackie Dee King, Jonathan King, Decia Goodwin, Brian Conway Anna Ferrigno Ward, Larry Ward and other G&P parents.