Photo: Jay Willett / WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — "Hey, hey ho ho— the grad requirement has to go," protesters chanted.
A crowd gathered outside the gates of the State House Sunday afternoon to protest standardized testing in the state, the MCAS, which was implemented more than three decades ago.
The Massachusetts Teachers Associations and Boston Workers Circle teamed up to push the Thrive Act proposal to those passing by on Beacon Hill. The proposal has three parts to it: slash the MCAS high school requirement, end state receivership, and create a commission that reassesses Commonwealth schools under the scope of the 21st century.
Students like fifth grader Ari from Newton schools says the test does nothing but create high anxiety and tension in the classroom.
"Some kids might have learning disabilities or might still be learning English. It's not fair they should still be able to graduate," Ari said.
MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy says the test has missed the mark since it was introduced in 1993.
"Instead we have removed the joy from our classroom," McCarthy said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jay Willett (@JayWillettWBZ) reports.
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