Gayle Goldin, High Stakes Test Garner National Press

There was a ton of news to be reported this week in Rhode Island, but the one that made the most national news might well be the Providence Student Union’s Take The Test event this weekend. The idea is if adults think it’s such a good idea to judge a student’s education on a singular test, they should try it for themselves and see how it feels.

Progressive Providence state Senator Gayle Goldin did and the Washington Post interviewed her about the experience.

“I think my takeaway message from this is that the test is not a good indicator of whether or not someone is going to be able to achieve academically,” Goldin told the Post. “And placing this barrier on our young men and women in our high schools without giving them the resources previously to ensure that they are going to succeed is just setting them up for additional failures.”

Diane Ravitch also picked up on the event, and urged other local leaders – including those who pushed support the policy – to put their number 2 pencils where their mouths are. “Governor Chafee, take the test!” her blog implored. “Deborah Gist, take the test!

I’m not sure who from the ‘high stakes tests are a good idea for 17-year-olds’ community is coming on Saturday, but I hope there are many. This is a pretty feel-good political action that is being put together by high school students (under the direction of Aaron Regunberg) and it would be great if some of the disparate voices on this highly charged issue could come together to send the message that even when we disagree we can still come together.