I was privileged and honored to visit the WOO and meet Steve Orel. There are few people in this world who embody the courage and justice that Steve had. The following is from the ARN list. Nancy Creech Gloria Pipkin, coordinator of the Florida Coalition for Assessment Reform, posted the following message on the FCAR listserv on Saturday afternoon.
Steve Orel had been a regular poster on these national lists and an exemplary leader of assessment reform efforts in Alabama. His commitment and talents will most definitely be missed. Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing - - - - Steve Orel, a student advocate and anti-high-stakes testing activist from Birmingham, AL, died at his home early today, after a two-year battle with cancer. Steve was fired from his job as an adult education instructor in June of 2000, after he blew the whistle on Birmingham City Schools for pushing out--involuntarily withdrawing--522 high school students a few weeks before state tests were given, when the school system was under threat of take-over by the state due to low test scores. In partnership with a Catholic lay order, the Salesians, Steve opened the World of Opportunity, "a civil rights, social justice, educational, and job readiness program" in the Gate City area of Birmingham. Many of the pushed-out students enrolled at the WOO, which is now independent of the Salesians and continues to serve as a haven for the community. As a member of Advocates of Children and Teachers National Organizing Workshop (ACT-NOW), I joined activists from around the country in honoring Steve Orel and the World of Opportunity with the Courage in Education Award in 2003, at a conference held at the WOO. Steve Orel's account of the pushouts, titled "Left Behind in Birmingham: 522 Pushed-out Students," is featured in Silent No More: Voices of Courage in American Schools (Heinemann, 2003). Donations to the WOO in Steve's memory may be made to the following address: World of Opportunity 7429 Georgia Road Birmingham, AL 35212-2921 Steve often signed email with these lines from a United Mine Workers song, and they exemplify his philosophy, which we might also apply to our struggles against the most pernicious aspects of the FCAT: Step by step the longest march, can be won, can be won. Many stones can form and arch, singly none, singly none. And by union what we will, can be accomplished still. Drops of water turn a mill, singly none, singly none. Rest in peace, Steve. Gloria ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
