Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I would like to encourage Missouri Voters to respond to a call by educators in our great state to Vote NO on Amendment 3 in the upcoming election on November 4. Amendment 3 is a one-size-fits-all approach that treats our students like numbers and prevents teachers from treating them like individuals. This amendment also takes away local control of our school and hands it Jefferson City politicians. If Amendment 3 passes, more government-mandated standardized tests will be present.

Local control is essential to maintaining the best schools possible. It allows school districts to give the support to teachers they need. Amendment 3 would implement even more standardized tests written by Jefferson City elected officials and bureaucrats and not by local school districts.

Students already take too many standardized tests that force teachers to teach to a test rather than focus on actual learning. These new high-stakes tests would determine the funding of our local schools and place more emphasis on test scores rather than actual learning. Teachers would then be forced to prepare for weeks for these tests, which would take necessary time away from actual learning and critical thinking that our students need. Our students are unique, they each have their own strengths and weaknesses. Standardized testing forces a one size fits all approach to our students, and this is wrong because it doesn't recognize the individual needs of the child.

As a principal and educator for 29 years in Missouri, I urge all Missourians to vote NO on Amendment 3. We need to keep local control of our schools and treat the needs of each unique student.

Sincerely,

Kimberly P. Morgan

Principal, South Elementary School

Kennett School District #39