Locally Directed Education group talks SAGE

A group of concerned parents congregated at the Sandy Public Library tonight at 7:00 p.m. to listen to two speakers talk about Student Assessment of Growth and Excellence testing and parental rights.

“I am worried about the direction education is taking as a whole,” said Wendell Ashby, who coordinated the event. “We are seeing less and less teaching and more and more directives given from districts, states, federal entities, private corporations, legislatures and I don’t believe that is the best outcome for education.”

He said he became involved because he is a concerned parent and is worried where the education system is headed.

Ashby invited speakers Christel Swasey and Heather Gardner to speak.

Swasey spoke about why parents should opt their children out of SAGE testing. She focused on the data the government and different corporations such as American Institute for Research receives when a student takes the SAGE test.

Gardner focused on parental rights and education. She told the story of her children and the problems she faced with SAGE testing and trying to opt her kids out.

Her kids were opted out of SAGE testing, but the charter school they attended still tried to force her children to take a test in some form.

“I had written an opt out letter that I didn’t want my children participating in the SAGE or the portal of any of the tests,” Gardner said. “Then my sixth grader came home and told me that they had made her log on to the portal to practice the test.”

The charter school which Gardner’s kids were attending eventually sent a letter to her saying that the school couldn’t accommodate her requests.

Gardner deeply encouraged the audience to learn and know their parental rights. She wanted parents to know what actions they are able to take with their children and the education system.

Another member of Locally Directed Education and member of their homeschool group attended the event as well.

“I am locally involved, politically involved I am passionate about education,” said Alisha Jensen, member of Locally Directed Education “As parents we have to decide what the purpose of education is. I believe that our children should be protected and that parents have ultimate authority.”