(last update: 24-Dec-2004)
We are parents, teachers, students and other concerned citizens in and around Arlington, Massachusetts, USA, who believe that the MCAS is deeply flawed and is the wrong way to improve education in Massachusetts (more). We are part of a statewide effort aimed at the elimination or substantial modification of the MCAS.
As a group, we represent a range of opinions, from those who think that the MCAS is basically a good idea that needs to be implemented properly, to those who oppose any kind of standardized testing. Most of us fall in-between, differing in views on specific issues. The topic is quite complex, so we invite you to look at the summary, or to go over the frequently-asked-questions, or to explore the issues.
To join our group, go to Join Arlington CARE.
To receive electronic bulletins and notices from our e-mail newsgroup, send a blank e-mail message to: ArlingtonCARE-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. We would also appreciate if you could e-mail us your name, address, and telephone number.
If you would like to send us an e-mail message, you may address it to moderator@ArlingtonCARE.org. If you would like to send us a letter via snail-mail, our address is:
Arlington CARE
P. O. Box 1241
Arlington, MA 02474-8422
USA
You may also contact one of the following individuals:
Lynette Culverhouse, +1-781-641-3076
Mary Fusoni, +1-781-646-445
George Blaszczynski, +1-781-646-0337
Lynette is a teacher who has been involved in home-schooling for many years and recently founded a school that is an exciting alternative to the MCAS-driven public schools. For an interesting article about this school (The Boston Globe, Aug 26, 2002), click here.
Our objective is the elimination or substantial modification of the MCAS. We plan to achieve this through a political process.
Our current emphases is on pressing the issue in local and statewide newspapers and other media and in any other way we can. We are trying to get more people involved. We also hope to improve coordination of efforts among nearby communities.
In general terms, we can divide the political activities into:
To inform the public, we write letters to the editors, distribute fliers at public events, send e-mail message through our Internet newsgroup, and maintain this web site..
We have not been very active in the legislative initiatives (other communities have been quite active in this area), but we do maintain close relationships with our state representatives who are very supportive of our ideas.
To pressure the Governor, we have collected hundreds of letters and postcards addressed to the Governor, signed by concerned citizens who oppose the MCAS.
To find out more, go to What's Happening at Arlington CARE.
We organized two anti-MCAS forums in Arlington, one in April 2000 at the Bracket School, the other in November 2000 in the Town Hall. Both were well attended and featured many interesting speakers, including a principal, State Representative, and local officials, as well as teachers, parents, and students.
We have had a number of letters-to-the-editor published in Arlington Advocate and Boston Globe.
We published a full page ad in Advice-From-The-Experts insert that has a circulation of nearly 100,000 (Sep 27, 2001).
We had a booth at a the Arlington Town Day in September 2000, 2001, and 2002. This gave us chance to talk to a lot of people and to distribute leaflets.
We collected hundreds of letters and postcards to the Governor and to the House Education Committee.
We testified at the legislative hearing on MCAS in June 2001.
Twenty five Arlington High School students (and a few Middle School students) boycotted the 2000 MCAS. This protest was noticed on the state level. In Arlington, it was debated at the School Committee meetings. A delegation of the boycotting students made a very convincing presentation justifying their opposition to the MCAS.
The action of these students energized the community. Arlington became one of a handful of communities leading the anti-MCAS effort.
Some of the students participate in Arlington CARE. However, Arlington CARE does not have a formal association with the students. Arlington CARE also does not have a formal position on student boycotts of MCAS; we believe it is a personal decision based on one's conscience, and we neither encourage nor discourage future boycotts (more).
Some of Arlington students participate in the statewide student anti-MCAS organization SCAM. If you are a student and would like to get involved, please contact SCAM.
In reaction to the student boycotts and the presentation made by the student delegation (see Arlington students), the School Committee passed a resolution formally opposing the MCAS in April 2000 (see Arlington Resolution).
Later, spearheaded by Barbara Goodman and other members, the Committee proposed a similar resolution at the annual meeting of the MASC (Massachusetts Association of School Committees). That resolution passed by a margin of 137 to 30.
Arlington is but one community in a statewide effort against the MCAS. To find out what is going on statewide, go to Other Communities.
Arlington CARE does not have a formal membership. Instead, we just have a list of people who share our views. Those that have access to e-mail are on our electronics newsgroup list and receive monthly bulletins.
Even if you don't have the time to actively participate, please let us know who you are so your opinion can be counted. Together we can speak with a louder voice. Our list is kept in confidence; not given to anyone outside.
For more information, go to Join Arlington CARE.