Yesterday, Bill S. Edgerly, head of Business for Better Schools, fired the first volley, calling for the Massachusetts Teachers Association to pull their anti-MCAS test TV ads. The 60-second commercials, which air on TV stations around the state, show a group of stressed kids taking the MCAS, shaking their heads, rubbing their eyes, and holding their heads as the clock ticks. Your dreams die. This ad frightens students who are about to take the MCAS tests. Your ad omits important information.
Students can have extra time to finish.
Stop telling students, You can t. Help them say, We can. Not backing off, Gorrie said the MTA ran the ads because the organization strongly believes the MCAS graduation requirement is wrong. The main point is that we ought not be making decisions based on a single test. That s the main thrust of our campaign.