THE GAG RULE IS GOING AWAY. THE PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PUT THE RULE IN PLACE TO STOP TEACHERS FROM EXPRESSING NEGATIVE OPINIONS ABOUT STANDARDIZED TESTING. A-C-L-U ATTORNEY MARIA MARTINEZ SANCHEZ TELLS US THE P-E-D WILL SOON START THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE GAG RULE, ALLOWING TEACHERS TO HAVE HONEST DISCUSSIONS WITH PARENTS ABOUT THE TESTING.
SHE SAYS ALLOWING TEACHERS TO DISCUSS STANDARDIZED TESTING DOESN’T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY’LL HAVE NOTHING POSITIVE TO SAY ABOUT THEM. MARTINEZ SANCHEZ SAYS THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE STUDENT THEY’RE DISCUSSING AND HOW THE TEST WILL IMPACT THAT PARTICULAR STUDENT.
ONCE THE RULE IS REMOVED, A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE A-C-L-U AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE DROPPED. THE LAWSUIT MAINTAINED THE GAG RULE VIOLATED FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.
