Skyler Rose Alpert

Skyler Rose Alpert

My name is Skyler Rose Alpert. I am a sixth grader at Mt. Pleasant Middle School in Livingston, New Jersey. I have permission from my principal to be here today and I will be counted as present at school because my testimony here will be part of my individualized education program. My understanding is, that the purpose of a public education is to create active and engaged citizens. I hope that this testimony counts to fulfilling that purpose.

I usually do very well on my standardized tests. However, I have had certain advantages other students have not necessarily been exposed to. My parents are both well-educated. I am well-travelled. Every summer, I spend weeks away from home at sleep away camp, where I take creative classes.

At school, in Livingston, I am offered public speaking classes, law fair, music, art, typing, GT, sports, clubs such as newspaper and math club, we put on a fall and spring play, and we have a period devoted to developing our reading skills. These are the types of classes that will guide us in the real world. They teach us to be creative, original, intelligent, brave, and bold. The PARCC threatens to take this away from us. Instead of being able to teach us what is really important, we will need all that time to prepare for a test that doesn’t reflect our true knowledge.

Please free our professional teachers to passionately and creatively teach us, so that we may each set our own standards of excellence, and learn from those around us, who are setting their own.

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Unfortunately testifying in front of the State School Board isn’t all fun and games, because I will now have to write up a report about my experience here today and present it to my social studies class. There are no standardized answers for this kind of education.

Thank you very much. Would you like to ask me any questions?