You may have heard that the Mount Alexander College (MAC) AEU sub-branch has resolved to refuse to administer NAPLAN in 2019. This bold resistance to the standardised testing agenda needs our solidarity.
The MAC sub-branch has asked for messages and motions of solidarity – the sooner the better! Individual messages of support are welcome, and if possible please follow it up with a sub-branch motion. Below is a model motion, with an optional additional clause to join MAC in boycotting NAPLAN! Send to: mesejforum@gmail.com and we will pass them on to MAC teachers.
“This sub-branch applauds the stand taken by the Mount Alexander College sub-branch in refusing to administer the NAPLAN test in 2019. We agree that NAPLAN tests are flawed measures of student achievement and the use of NAPLAN results to compare school performance on the MySchool website distracts from extremely unequal school funding. NAPLAN has led to the narrowing and standardisation of curriculum, which devalues teachers and damages student learning. This sub-branch pledges its solidarity with the MAC sub branch and calls on the AEU Victoria Branch Council to co-ordinate a state wide boycott of NAPLAN testing.”
(Optional: This sub-branch resolves to refuse to administer the NAPLAN test at this school in 2019. We resolve to engage the parent and carer community, students and other staff to seek their support. We call on other AEU sub-branches to join us in refusing to administer this test for the welfare and good education of our students.)
If you want to tweet your support, make sure to include @MESEJ_forum and @AEUVictoria in your tweet.
For your information, here is the MAC resolution to refuse to administer NAPLAN in 2019:
“The Mount Alexander College AEU sub-branch expresses its complete opposition
to NAPLAN and similar standardised tests which are a legacy of a bygone era of
factory style schools and categorising students. We note the stress and anxiety
these tests cause, and how they have practically become a flawed measurement of
school performance, with schools teaching to the test. We are proud our school
does not teach to the test but offers subjects directly related to student
interest and educates all students inclusively in relation to their needs, not
an arbitrary standard. The time for NAPLAN is over.
We resolve to refuse to administer the NAPLAN test at this school in 2019. We resolve to engage the parent and carer community, students and other staff to seek their support. We call on other AEU sub-branches to join us in refusing to administer this test for the welfare and good education of our students.”
Looking forward to reading your messages of support 🙂