Voices of Dissent 1: Interview With Susan Ohanian

"All I know is if teachers remain silent, they are going to lose their profession. In many cases, the profession is dead: when you're reading a script, you are not a professional."

Susan Ohanian began teaching in a New York City high school in the late 60's. Almost at once, she fashioned herself as both educator and activist. Throughout her career, she has challenged the educational status quo, recently publishing a widely-respected book (with Kathy Emery) called Why Is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools? Her web site -- http://www.susanohanian.org -- is one of the pillars of the anti-NCLB, anti-high-stakes testing movement.

In this interview, Susan calls on teachers, professional organizations, and unions to speak out against high-stakes testing. As she says, "You certainly can't be an activist if your mouth is shut."