Fourth Grade Girl Gets Ovation in Response to Her Call to 'Stop!' Standardized Testing

Brad Fox | March 31, 2015
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Sydney Smoot, a fourth grader at Brooksville Elementary, shared her concerns on testing in schools with members of the Hernando County School Board at their regular meeting on March 17, 2015.

Ms. Smoot decided to speak out against Florida’s mandated standardized testing because she doesn’t feel one test should define a student as a either a success or a failure.

“I consider myself a well-educated young lady,” she said, adding that “It doesn’t take into account all my knowledge and abilities, just a small percentage."

She said that the test looks at her as a mere number and also objected to being unable to talk with her parents about the tests:

“I have the right to talk to my parents about anything and everything related to school and my education.”

She closed with a call to action:

"So, ladies and gentlemen of the school board, I urge you to put a stop to high-stakes testing today!"

"Parents and students, contact your governor, put a stop to all this standardized testing!"

 

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