RESIST NARROWING OF THE CURRICULUM DUE TO STANDARDIZED TESTS

WHEREAS, the effects of "No Child Left Behind" have included encroachments on academic freedom, curbing of professional integrity and autonomy, limits on teaching critical thinking, creativity, and citizenship skills, and a declining discourse among teachers; and

WHEREAS, in some districts, teachers have been reduced to an hour or two per week of discretionary instruction; and

WHEREAS, despite the best efforts of enormous numbers of teachers, parents, classified school employees, administrators and students, often resulting in great improvements in test results (if not the quality of instruction), school after school, in district after district, is being sanctioned and penalized:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers sponsor legislation that calls for delivery of a well-rounded education, including a full measure of social studies and the arts, necessary to the development of the whole human being and citizen, rather than narrowing delivery of instruction to meet the needs of standardized tests.