Sleep through the MEAP
Resources for Defeating the Dread Test 
 

Nobody has to take the MEAP and no tenured teacher should be forced to give it. Students have a right to opt out of the MEAP, all students. Students can opt out for religious reasons (the Universal Life Church of Detroit has condemned the MEAP), for reasons of civil rights (the MEAP, like all of the big high-stakes tests is a racist exam), and students can simply not come to school: sleep through the MEAP. 
 

Teachers should not have to teach to the MEAP and should not have to administer it. Teachers can opt out for the religious reasons described above, for reasons of civil rights, or simply by invoking the code of ethics of the NEA which is in nearly every Michigan teacher contract. A similar code is promoted by the AFT. 
 

On the reverse side of this flyer we offer a form to opt students out of the MEAP (you really don't need a form-just don't go). And we reprint a section from the NEA code of ethics. 
 

There are many resources on the www which will provide you with readable and scholarly information about standardized curricula, high stakes tests, and school take-overs. These are resources we think are especially helpful-which will lead you to others. 
 

Rich Gibson's web page for a democratic society 
http://www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/ 

Wayne Ross, editor of Theory and Research in Social Studies on resegregating schools  
http://www.pipeline.com/~rgibson/rouge_forum/ 

Susan Ohanian in PDK on Standardized Curricula and Exams 
http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/koha0001.htm 

Alfie Kohn's www page on testing and standards 
http://www.alfiekohn.org/ 

The Assessment Reform Network Discussion List 
ARN-L@LISTS.CUA.EDU 

The Whole Schooling Consortium  
http://www.coe.wayne.edu/CommunityBuilding/WSC.html  

Fairtest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing 
http://www.fairtest.org/  

Academic Freedom, Teachers, and the Law 
http://www.fhsu.edu/aces/850/academic/ 
 
 
 

Defeat the MEAP, Don't be a MEAP Creep

 
Rouge Forum 2000

 
Parents and Guardians

Opt Your Children out of MEAP Abuse

 

Dear School Administrator: 
 

This is to notify you that I am not going to subject my child to high-stakes standardized exams, specifically the MEAP.  
 

I choose to withdraw my child from the MEAP because: 
 

( ) It is a racist exam and hence in violation of the civil rights act. 

() The test is designed to divide and exclude children which is not in the public good. This exclusion is in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

() I have religious objections to the exam. 

() I do not believe that tests of this sort represent the best educational interests of children or teachers. 

() The exam makes no sense. It is poorly drawn, improperly scored, unprofessionally administered by the Michigan Department of the Treasury. 

() All of the above. 
 

Please be advised that I am aware of a considerable body of scholarly work in opposition to high-stakes standardized exams. In addition, I have indicated above that I have legal protection and I will invoke my rights under the law, including my rights to be free of retaliation for exercising my rightful options.  
 

Sincerely, 
 

_____________________________ 
 
 

Teachers, The NEA Code of Ethics Suggests  

You Should Act Against the MEAP 

PRINCIPLE I: Commitment to the Student 

This key section of the NEA Code of Ethics suggests that professional educators should have nothing to do with the MEAP: "(Educators) Shall not on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly-- A. Exclude any student from participation in any program B. Deny benefits to any student C. Grant any unfair advantages to any student D. Shall not use professional relationships with students for private advantage. The entire Code is at: http://www.nea.org/aboutnea/code.html