Why John King Should Be Rejected as Secretary of Education

As a student at Syosset High School during much of King’s reign as New York State’s education commissioner, I saw firsthand the disastrous effects of his policies.

By Nikhil Goyal –

When I learned that President Obama had formally nominated John King for the position of secretary of education, I was horrified and furious. As a student at Syosset High School during much of King’s reign as New York State’s education commissioner, I saw firsthand the disastrous effects of his policies on my peers, teachers, and community.

In May 2013, I wrote an op-ed for the The Nation detailing why I opted out of the state teacher evaluation tests. These tests were part of the new teacher evaluation system that put an inordinate emphasis on standardized test scores. A few weeks later, I gave a speech at a rally in Albany, where I directed some of my remarks to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Commissioner King, and then-Board of Regents Chancellor Merryl Tisch: “We’re coming for you. We’re taking back our children. We’re taking back our schools. We’re taking back public education from your hands and from the hands of corporations, billionaires, Wall Street, and testing companies. Wake the hell up.”

Source: Why John King Should Be Rejected as Secretary of Education | The Nation