We want Delaware State. Rep. Earl Jaques to step down from the House Education Committee
The citizens of Delaware were deeply offended by several public comments made by Delaware State Representative Earl Jaques in the past few weeks. We are demanding he steps down from the Chairmanship of the House Education Committee based on the following comments:
1) When asked about parent opt-out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment in Delaware, Jaques told WHYY/Newsworks report Avi Wolfman-Arent:
“To me, opt out is admitting failure,” said Jaques. “[It’s] saying, oh, I can’t measure up. I’m not good enough to be able to take this test. I can’t pass that test. That’s not the American way.”
2) In an article with WDDE, Jaques told a reporter the Smarter Balanced Assessment is just a "little test". This is all a part of an effort, in conjunction with Delaware Governor Jack Markell, to downplay this test to decrease the number of parents opting out of this high-stakes test.
3) At a Christina Educators Association meeting, he told concerned teachersthat House Bill 50 in Delaware, a bill to allow parent opt out intostate law, that the bill will never pass, which hasn't even made it's way into the House Education Committee for discussion.
For all of these reasons, we do not believe Earl Jaques is sufficiently able to Chair a committeeabout education when he is unable to conveyfacts in a non-offending manner. We findhe will do whatever the Governor asks of him and he is not serving the will of the people in the State that elected him and ask that hestep down immediately as Chair of theHouse Education Committee and Delaware.
We also ask that he publicly apologize for his demeaning comments that have offended parents and students, especially parents of special needs children.
36 Comments
It is not admitting failure. It is supporting instructional time instead of screwed up schedules and loss of classroom time due to the large amounts of testing.
It is not "the American way" for federal control of education, massive data collection upon citizens, nor elected represetitice to flip off those whom they represent! - Retired US Marine
your remarks were insensitive to the concerns of parents who do not wish to have their children tested to death. That is not education. No wonder Delaware children do poorly. They are not educated, they are taught to test. How sad Rep. Jaques and what a sad Representative you are to the people you represent in your capacity as the Chairman of the House Education Committee.
My choice to opt-out has no bearing on how I feel my sons will do on this test, but has everything to do on not testing them on what they have been taught and my right as a parent to decide what is in their best interest. For you to suggest otherwise indicates ignorance of the very judicial system you were elected to uphold.
I am very disappointed in Rep. Jaques' comments dismissing the Smarter Balanced test as a "little test", It has completely taken over our school--and we just started it this week. I have only respect for people who are brave enough to Opt out.
get out ,you are not listening to what is important to our children.
Bonnie Meredith
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We want Delaware State. Rep. Earl Jaques to step down from the House Education Committee
The citizens of Delaware were deeply offended by several public comments made by Delaware State Representative Earl Jaques in the past few weeks. We are demanding he steps down from the Chairmanship of the House Education Committee based on the following comments:
1) When asked about parent opt-out of the Smarter Balanced Assessment in Delaware, Jaques told WHYY/Newsworks report Avi Wolfman-Arent:
“To me, opt out is admitting failure,” said Jaques. “[It’s] saying, oh, I can’t measure up. I’m not good enough to be able to take this test. I can’t pass that test. That’s not the American way.”
2) In an article with WDDE, Jaques told a reporter the Smarter Balanced Assessment is just a "little test". This is all a part of an effort, in conjunction with Delaware Governor Jack Markell, to downplay this test to decrease the number of parents opting out of this high-stakes test.
3) At a Christina Educators Association meeting, he told concerned teachersthat House Bill 50 in Delaware, a bill to allow parent opt out intostate law, that the bill will never pass, which hasn't even made it's way into the House Education Committee for discussion.
For all of these reasons, we do not believe Earl Jaques is sufficiently able to Chair a committeeabout education when he is unable to conveyfacts in a non-offending manner. We findhe will do whatever the Governor asks of him and he is not serving the will of the people in the State that elected him and ask that hestep down immediately as Chair of theHouse Education Committee and Delaware.
We also ask that he publicly apologize for his demeaning comments that have offended parents and students, especially parents of special needs children.
36 Comments
The choice to opt out my child is absolutely admitting failure...of the State of Delaware and the DOE failing to put the interests and educations of our children ahead of money machine that these tests have become. Shame on you for ever shaming any parent making the best decisions they can for THEIR child!
It is not admitting failure. It is supporting instructional time instead of screwed up schedules and loss of classroom time due to the large amounts of testing.
It is not "the American way" for federal control of education, massive data collection upon citizens, nor elected represetitice to flip off those whom they represent! - Retired US Marine
your remarks were insensitive to the concerns of parents who do not wish to have their children tested to death. That is not education. No wonder Delaware children do poorly. They are not educated, they are taught to test. How sad Rep. Jaques and what a sad Representative you are to the people you represent in your capacity as the Chairman of the House Education Committee.
My choice to opt-out has no bearing on how I feel my sons will do on this test, but has everything to do on not testing them on what they have been taught and my right as a parent to decide what is in their best interest. For you to suggest otherwise indicates ignorance of the very judicial system you were elected to uphold.
I am very disappointed in Rep. Jaques' comments dismissing the Smarter Balanced test as a "little test", It has completely taken over our school--and we just started it this week. I have only respect for people who are brave enough to Opt out.
get out ,you are not listening to what is important to our children.
Bonnie Meredith
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The choice to opt out my child is absolutely admitting failure...of the State of Delaware and the DOE failing to put the interests and educations of our children ahead of money machine that these tests have become. Shame on you for ever shaming any parent making the best decisions they can for THEIR child!