students who boycott TAKS?

a student wrote us, asking about the consequences of boycotting TAKS. one problem with this is that boycotts without solidarity (that is, where not every boycotts) have never changed anything. the other problem is that such a boycott lets teachers off the hook. teachers secretly cheer for the students without sticking their necks out at all.

but for those dedicated students with ethical objections to TAKS, here are some important things to keep in mind. as for students who are lazy or simply don't feel like taking the test: take the test anyway. boycotting TAKS is hard work. harder than the test itself. to be prepared, the student needs the protection of high GPA with high SAT scores.

this is precisely the problem with student boycotts - only those students who woud pass TAKS anyway are likely to survive without it. if you refuse TAKS without continuing to college, you are on the path to lifetime underemployment. you'll end up spending extra time and money on a GED, which will be worth less to employers and colleges.

here are the consequences for students:


the state will withhold the diploma. but they cannot withhold your transcript.

administrators and teachers are expected to force you to take the test. they typically threaten students with consequences including legal charges, which are NOT possible, no matter what a vice principal says. the school might do things like kick you out of extra-curriculars or give you detention -- based on charges such as "disruption" or "disobedience." none of this has long-term consequence.

some teachers will support you, but it is likely others will be mad. because district money is based on passing percentage. each student who does not pass means less money for administrators to work with. i recommend keeping this in mind when they yell at you, but make sure to remind them: TAKS has low validity and low relevance to college-preparedness. compared to other standardized tests, TAKS questions are especially ambiguous in their wording, and historically subject to computer grading errors (they say it's better now, but they've said that before).

a few of Texas' public and private colleges already have accepted students without TAKS scores. community colleges will probably not accept you. colleges in other states don't care about TAKS at all, but they will wonder about the diploma. so each college application needs an explanatory essay about the motivation and experience of boycotting the test. contact a local newspaper, and try to get them to print your explanation and/or write a story about you (this is easier than it sounds, just send emails to a few reporters or the letters editor).

keep in mind there is a cost and benefit to everything. boycotting the TAKS is a risk, a struggle, and cannot be done halfway. if you truly believe in it, you will grow in ways you can't anticipate.

but above all, we believe in TEACHERS taking responsibility. students risk too much when boycotting. tell every teacher that the TAKS is psychometrically bad. encourage them to research its problems. if teachers simply give this to students without recognition of their personal guilt, they are fooling themselves. working together, teachers can force districts to use accurate and fair assessment. teachers must teach, and TAKS does anything but. Texas' teachers must find the courage to risk a job - and save a profession.

kip